Nepal has witnessed an alarming trend over recent decades. Every month, thousands of young minds leave the country, many of them right after school, in pursuit of better education and career opportunities abroad. Semi-literate school dropouts and under-skilled youths in large numbers desert villages in search of greener pastures. The majority of them head for one or the other Gulf country, or Malaysia. Those with relatively better skill sets and some college education have their eyes set on South Korea or Japan. The list goes on. Whatever, the bottom line is: 'Get out of this country'. By all means. As early as possible. The general psyche behind the migration trends reflects deep-lying flaws in Nepal's education system. That was the takeaway from a recent campaign organized in Nepalgunj the other day.
The majority of speakers, including undergraduate college students and established professionals, emphasized these concerns and the urgent need to reform Nepal's education system by upgrading policies and curriculum to stop this mass exodus. Senior Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala, in his keynote address, correctly stated that Nepal requires an education system that allows students to work while studying. Only by doing so can we, to a considerable extent, stop students from going abroad. Most of the speakers of the program highlighted Nepal's vast tourism, agricultural, and small business potential but our authorities are still unable to capitalize on these due to a lack of proper education policies and curricula. One reason for the current level of mass emigration is the low quality of education in our colleges and schools, which do not offer students with better career paths. Despite the government's hefty investment, the outcome has remained dismal in our government universities, colleges and schools. Parents are hesitant to send their children to government colleges and schools since the curricula have become outdated, and the educational system does not make students competitive in job markets. Private educational institutions, however, offer some good education, but their high costs and inability to secure careers have forced many students to migrate to foreign countries. There is a dearth of career opportunities in Nepal as well. Even after years of studying, graduates are unable to get decent jobs in Nepal. Many students feel that studying abroad will boost their chances of landing a high-paying career. Countries such as Australia, the United States, the UK, and Canada have become attractive destinations because they offer both a good education and better career prospects.
Presidential Business School organizes IT Conclave to help brid...
To halt the exodus of young people, our policymakers must make immediate changes to the education system. First, the government must enhance the quality of education in our colleges and schools by upgrading teaching and learning techniques and updating the curricula to suit the present-day requirements. Nepal's academia and industry work in tandem to ensure that universities produce competent graduates armed with superior skills, instead of just churning out students with academic degrees that do not align with the job market. Students must be trained in professional sectors that have strong potential in Nepal, such as hydropower, agriculture, tourism, and technology. Partnerships between universities and industries appear to have potential, and internships and vocational training should be made mandatory, allowing students to gain real-world experience before graduation. Many young individuals leave Nepal seeking better commercial opportunities as well as education. Economic incentives, guidelines, and a better employment environment can retain our talented youth. Reformed policies and improved education coupled with job opportunities would certainly dissuade our young adults from going abroad for better education and job opportunities. Our politicians, policymakers, educators, and thought leaders must act before we lose an entire generation of the country's best and brightest minds to distant shores.
