Is going abroad the only answer?

More and more Nepali students are going abroad to pursue their studies. But is it really a foreign degree luring them, or is it something else? According to the statistics at the Ministry of Education for 2017/18(June), 42,889 students have gone abroad to study, whereas in the year 2016/17 ( June ), 40,696  students went abroad for the same. The number of students going abroad is increasing by the year.

It is common to see students enrolling for IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT and language classes to go either to Europe, America, Australia and other countries.

Billions of rupees have been invested in our education system. In Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Purbanchal University, and colleges affiliated to these universities — a huge amount of money has been invested. However, students are opting to go abroad, and they go one way or the other.

The question that arises here is — can our colleges and universities not provide quality education? Numerous education fairs are held in the Capital about studies abroad. These fairs aim to provide information to students about studies in their choice of university abroad and to help them choose desirable courses at affordable costs.

Reasons to leave

The first cause  was the generation gap. The huge age gap between parents and children, mostly in uneducated parents and educated children — the children choose to leave and study abroad. And going abroad is taken as a mark of respect. If someone has gone abroad, it automatically increases his/her level. Also, they think they should earn money. There is an assumption that if we earn $1 there, it will be converted to Rs 100 here. The other reason is the aspiration to do something. But some students go abroad just to study also.

Conditions of private institution

 The private institutions have focused on decorations only. They are unable to provide quality education to compete in the open markets. Teachers’ role is ‘all in all’, but knowledge-wise they are out-dated. They teach with an exam-oriented mindset. They pass students through nepotism and favouritism. Hence, students are unable to rely on their teachers here and hence forced to seek other choices. Also the mentality of parents and students. They want an education which will give cash returns immediately. After studies, they must get a good job immediately.

Role of consultancies

There have been cases of students who went abroad and were trapped in disqualified institutions and colleges. Due to lack of governing and monitoring bodies, many education consultancies are cheating such students. There are still a large number of counsellors who do not have a certificate to counsel students. On the other hand, students totally depend on consultancies for information and they hardly care to get information on their own.

What is the solution?

It is a student’s right to study in the country of their choice as long as they have a ‘No Objection’ letter from the Nepal government. But the problem is — are they really serious about studying? Or we are too late to address the problem?

Holding exams and declaring results on time, the course taught should be designed by the teacher him/herself, the teacher should be updated about the subject s/he is teaching, and students should have the choice to change subjects if they are unable to understand it. Along with this the leadership of educational institutions should be strong. These steps will solve the problem.

Rules and regulations in colleges/universities should be strengthened. Exams and results on time, less politicisation, no strikes will do, and they should offer newer courses and revise the old ones.

*Er.Aakash Khadka

    Member of save the children Aus.