KATHMANDU, Oct 9: The trend of Nepali youth leaving the country for better opportunities and higher education abroad has surged recently.
According to Ramesh Ghimire, head of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) branch under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), 374 individuals received NOCs on Sunday alone. Ghimire stated that over 300 individuals are issued NOCs daily, primarily for foreign employment and higher education. He noted that although students apply for NOCs to pursue education, their ultimate goal is to seek opportunities abroad.
MoEST data shows that over the past four years, 338,974 individuals have been granted NOCs. Australia, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States have been the most popular destinations.
"Young people are willing to leave the country, even during Dashain, to avoid staying in Nepal," Ghimire said. "In the past, Australia, the UK, and the US were the primary educational destinations, but recently, Japan and Canada have gained popularity." He added that youths are increasingly seeking opportunities abroad to secure their futures while continuing their studies, especially after completing the 12th grade.
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Ghimire also pointed out that the highest number of recent NOCs have been issued for Japan, as the enrollment periods for educational institutions there occur in Falgun (mid-February to mid-March) and Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April). In fiscal year 2023/24, out of 112,593 NOCs issued, 34,731 were for Japan alone. Canada ranked second with 15,982 NOCs, followed by Australia with 14,772, the UK with 13,339, and the US with 11,261.
Professor Dr. Yogendra Bahadur Gurung, a demographer at Tribhuvan University, attributed this trend to economic factors. He noted that many young people are leaving under the pretense of pursuing education because the state has failed to create an environment that empowers them economically.
In fiscal year 2022/23, of the 102,610 NOCs issued, 28,239 were for Australia, 21,641 for Japan, 20,810 for Canada, 10,280 for the UK, and 4,098 for the US. In fiscal year 2021/22, 95,532 NOCs were issued, with 50,300 for Australia, 16,695 for Japan, 6,381 for the US, 5,151 for the UK, and 5,268 for Canada.
In fiscal year 2020/21, 28,239 NOCs were issued, with Japan receiving the highest number (8,777), followed by Australia (4,669), the UK (2,470), Canada (2,468), and the US (1,266).
"Our youth seem determined to leave the country at any cost," Ghimire said, highlighting the recent surge in NOC requests for Japan due to the open intake. "Although NOCs are available online, many individuals still need to visit the office in person due to mismatches in documents like citizenship and educational certificates," he explained. Ghimire also expressed concern over the population imbalance in Nepal, warning of future consequences and urging the state to take action.
Dr. Gurung echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for policy changes to address the population imbalance. "The rise in NOC applications is a direct result of the state’s failure to create a conducive environment for the youth to stay and work in Nepal," Gurung said. "Many students are planning to leave even before completing their 12th grade because they see no future here. Delays in completing their studies, the lack of employment or self-employment opportunities, and concerns over the security of business investments drive them away. They ask, 'Why should we stay?'"
Gurung stressed the importance of developing long-term policies to retain the country’s workforce. He called for clear policies on the future workforce, educational institutions, and elderly care, noting that it’s unrealistic to stop people from going abroad.
