KATHMANDU, July 27: Ranjita Shrestha from Kavre is preparing to go to Canada to pursue higher education. Awaiting the results of her Grade XII examination, Ranjita has decided to pursue her education in Canada. As soon as her exams were over, she completed the necessary tests for Canada, including IELTS and TOEFL for scholarships, and is working on preparing the required documents. Her sole goal is to obtain advanced education in IT from a reputed university in Canada.
She explained that, given the lack of job security even after studying in Nepal and the likelihood of having to go abroad eventually, she is preparing to leave now. "While waiting for my Grade XII results, I have already applied online to universities in Canada and visited consultancy services to understand more about the subjects I want to study," said 18-year-old Ranjita. "If I have to study up to a bachelor’s degree in Nepal, I will have to depend financially on my parents. Even after graduation, job security is uncertain. Instead of waiting and wasting time, it's better to go right after finishing Grade XII. There, I will be able to earn and study on my own."
Chitra Sharma, who was encountered at the NOC branch of the Ministry of Education, is preparing to go to Japan. Although he passed Grade XII last year, he plans to go to Japan this year for language studies. "In Japan, you can work for 28 hours a week while studying," Chitra told Republica during the meeting. "I have learned through the internet that after learning the language, there are opportunities to pursue technical or university education. Job security is assured both during and after education."
"For this reason, I am preparing to go to Japan even if it means waiting for a year. I have decided to move abroad because it will help me maintain social status and secure a job that matches the knowledge I acquire," he said.
Coming clean off addiction
The data shows that millions of young people like Ranjita and Chitra are currently going abroad to pursue education, as it offers both learning opportunities and prospects. In the past, Nepali youth primarily went to Gulf countries for work, but recently there has been a significant increase in the number of students leaving for higher education abroad.
New subjects have also been added in Nepal, and excellent foreign-affiliated colleges have opened. However, due to the government's failure to create opportunities aligned with educational fields, the number of those seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to study abroad is on the rise.
The NOC issued by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology for studying abroad from July 17, 2023 (Fiscal Year 2023/24) to mid-July 2024 has reached a total of 112,593. Among the NOCs issued for 66 countries, the highest number of NOCs has been issued for Japan, according to NOC Branch Head Nripdhwaj Magar. Furthermore, he has been surprised to see students obtaining NOCs to study abroad even in subjects that are available in Nepal.
Those obtaining NOCs for studying abroad are primarily focused on subjects such as management, IT, engineering, business, computer science, science and technology, health education, and humanities, according to NOC branch head Magar. This time, the highest number of NOCs issued is for Japan, with a total of 34,731.
The highest number of NOCs issued for studying abroad is for Japanese language studies. According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology's data, the number of students obtaining NOCs for Japanese language studies this year is 33,697. For management, 28,891 NOCs have been issued; for business, 10,029; for IT, 5,911; for science, 5,384; for computer science, 4,992; for science and technology, 4,102; and for hospitality, 2,543.
Magar said that the main destinations for higher education among Nepali students are Japan, Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. Among the total number of students obtaining NOCs, 34,731 are for Japan, 15,982 for Canada, 14,372 for Australia, 13,339 for the UK, 11,261 for the US, and 6,889 for the Republic of Korea.
Looking at the data from the past 16 years, a total of 646,196 NOCs have been issued so far. From 2008 to 2021, 416,364 NOCs were issued. In 2022, 117,563 NOCs were issued. In the fiscal year 2008/09, a total of 24,824 NOCs were issued for various countries, which increased to 63,259 in 2018/19, and then rose to 117,563 in 2022/23. For the fiscal year 2023/24, the number has reached 112,593.
According to Prakash Pandey, former president of the Educational Consultancy Association of Nepal (ECAN), Nepali youths are going abroad in search of both quality education and opportunities. "In the past one and a half decades, the number of students going abroad has increased from thousands to millions. This highlights the lack of opportunities in the country according to educational qualifications," he said.
"The world is moving forward with the concept of a global village. In Nepal, the state has not been able to create enough employment opportunities corresponding to education. If students still feel the need to go abroad even after obtaining education, there is a tendency among young students to consider going abroad now rather than later. As a result, despite both favorable and challenging conditions, students are being forced to go abroad."
Pandey suggests that if the state can create opportunities in Nepal that match educational qualifications, it will help retain students within the country and enable them to be competitive globally after acquiring skills.
