Nepal has been experiencing a growing trend of young students moving abroad for better educational opportunities and career prospects. This trend has raised concerns about the negative implications for Nepal, such as brain drain, a lack of skilled workforce, economic impact, loss of cultural identity, and a lack of innovation. To tackle this issue, the Nepal government needs to take proactive measures to create an environment that encourages young people to stay and contribute to the development of the country. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why Nepalese students are moving abroad, the negative implications of this trend, and the steps that the government can take to address this issue.
Between January and June 2022, the Ministry of Education in Kathmandu approved a staggering 82,000 No Objection Certificates (NOC) for Nepali students to study in Australia, Canada, UK, Japan, and the US. This figure is more than double the number of NOCs approved in the previous year, indicating a growing trend of Nepali students seeking educational opportunities abroad. (Source: NepaliTimes)
Why students are going out of the country?
There are several reasons why a lot of Nepalese students choose to study abroad:
- Limited educational opportunities: Nepal has limited educational opportunities, especially in specialized fields like engineering, medicine, and technology. Many Nepalese students choose to study abroad to access better educational opportunities in their desired field of study.
- Career prospects: Nepalese students often believe that studying abroad will provide better career prospects and opportunities than studying in Nepal. This is because many foreign universities are well-known and respected globally, and often provide better job prospects upon graduation.
- Exposure to new cultures and experiences: Studying abroad provides Nepalese students with an opportunity to experience new cultures, meet new people, and broaden their horizons. This can be a life-changing experience that helps them grow both personally and professionally.
- Political instability: Nepal has experienced political instability over the years, which has led to economic instability as well. Many Nepalese students believe that studying abroad can provide them with a stable environment to study and grow without worrying about political and economic instability.
- Language barriers: English is the medium of instruction in most foreign universities, and Nepalese students who are fluent in English typically find it easier to study abroad than to study in Nepali medium colleges.
- The general trend among young students: Studying abroad has become a popular trend among young Nepalese students. Many students believe that studying abroad will help them stand out in the job market and give them an edge over their peers. As a result, many Nepalese students are motivated to study abroad because of the trend among their peers.
- Following the footsteps of elder brothers and sisters: Another reason why Nepalese students choose to study abroad is that they are following in the footsteps of their elder brothers and sisters. Many Nepalese families view studying abroad as a way to secure a better future for their children. If an elder sibling has already studied abroad and had a positive experience, it is likely that their younger siblings will be encouraged to do the same.
Overall, studying abroad provides Nepalese students with better educational opportunities, career prospects, exposure to new cultures, and a stable environment to grow and learn.
Negative implications for Nepal if a lot of young people move abroad
There are several negative implications for Nepal if a lot of young people move abroad:
- Brain Drain: When highly skilled and educated young people leave Nepal, it results in a brain drain, meaning that Nepal loses its best and brightest. This can have a negative impact on Nepal’s economy and development because it loses potential leaders and innovators.
- Lack of skilled workforce: The loss of skilled and educated young people can lead to a shortage of skilled workers in Nepal, which can affect the growth of industries and businesses.
- Economic impact: Young people who move abroad often send money back to their families in Nepal. While this can provide financial support to their families, it also means that Nepal is losing potential spending power and investment that could be used to develop the country.
- Loss of cultural identity: When young people move abroad, they may be exposed to new cultures and ways of life that can distance them from their Nepali roots. This can lead to a loss of cultural identity and a weakening of Nepal’s social fabric.
- Lack of innovation: When talented young people leave Nepal, it can result in a lack of innovation and progress in areas like science, technology, and the arts, which can have long-term negative implications for Nepal’s development.
What should the Nepal government do to stop young people from moving abroad?
To address the issue of young people moving abroad, the Nepal government can take several steps:
- Improve the education system: One of the main reasons why young people leave Nepal is the limited educational opportunities. The government can improve the education system in Nepal by investing in quality education, hiring skilled teachers, and providing better resources and infrastructure.
- Promote entrepreneurship: The government can encourage young people to start businesses in Nepal by providing incentives, resources, and training. This can create job opportunities and prevent the need for young people to move abroad in search of better opportunities.
- Create job opportunities: The government can work to create job opportunities in Nepal by attracting foreign investments, promoting local industries, and developing infrastructure.
- Provide better social services: The government can provide better social services like healthcare, affordable housing, and a social safety net to address the needs of young people. This can improve their quality of life and reduce the need to move abroad.
- Address political and economic instability: The government can work to address political and economic instability in Nepal, which is a major factor that drives young people to move abroad. This can be done by promoting stability, improving governance, and reducing corruption.
In short, the Nepal government can take a multi-faceted approach to address the issue of young people moving abroad. By improving the education system, promoting entrepreneurship, creating job opportunities, providing better social services, and addressing political and economic instability, the government can create an environment where young people feel that they can succeed in Nepal and contribute to its development.
