There are various courses being offered in the faculty of Social Science and Humanities, and Rural Development (RD) is especially dedicated to the concept of producing entrepreneurs who can not only develop the rural areas of the country but can also create opportunities using local human and natural resources. This course was introduced by the Tribhuvan University (TU) in the year 2057 BS.
The graduate and post graduate courses on RD are being offered only in colleges affiliated to TU. Government colleges Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus and Patan Multiple Campus offer both Bachelors and Masters programme, while Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus offers Bachelors course only. Private college like K and K International College also offers Bachelors and Masters programme in the same.
Diversity with possible opportunities
Rural Development is a multi-dimensional course where students get the opportunity to gain knowledge in multiple fields like sociology, culture, economy, politics, natural resources, anthropology, technology and more.
About the course Bishista Shree Bhattarai, Co-ordinator of Department of RD, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus shared, “Rural Development does not focus on only one specific subject. It deals with various important subjects that have a connection to local discourse for development.”
Those having a Bachelors degree from any faculty can enroll in the Master’s programme of RD, and those who have cleared their Class XII can join the Bachelor’s
programme.
“The course is open to anyone — this is a plus point where students will have more tendency to perform well in a particular field,” said Bhattarai.
Likewise, Laxmi Khanal, a student of Master’s Ist Year at Tri-Chandra who has completed her Bachelors in Electronic Engineering shared, “For development, one needs both physical engineers and social engineers and Rural Development produces social engineers which is one of the most important components for overall development of society.”
About career opportunities, B Khadka, Academic Director of K and K International college explained, “One can work as a Local Development Officer, in NGOs and INGOs as policy makers and planners, and those who have studied RD have a high chance of passing the Lok Sewa (Civil Service) examination.”
Moreover, Gopal Khadka, Co-ordinator of Department of RD, Patan Multiple Campus shared, “One can play the role of a coordinator in any development project. Above all one becomes an entrepreneur who could give job opportunities using local human and natural resources.”
Government and private colleges
About the quality of education provided in government and private colleges, Nirajan Thapa, a student of Master’s Ist Year, Tri Chandra shared, “There is no compromise in the quality of teachers in government colleges. Teachers from the government colleges work as part time teachers at private college.”
Sharing the same view Gopal said, “One advantage of studying in a government college is that the fee structure is less expensive as compared to private colleges.”
Pointing out the disadvantage of government colleges, B Khadka shared, “There is no political interference in private colleges and classes are run smoothly and courses are completed on time which does not usually happen in government colleges.”
Arguing on B Khadka’s comment Bhattarai shared, “Yes, there is political influence but the courses are completed in government colleges as well and as the number of experts are greater in government colleges, one gets to learn more.”
Challenges
There are a few challenges that need to be overcome in this particular subject as Bhupendra Singh Badal, a student of BA IIIrd year at K and K pointed out, “More assignments should be given and marks should be given evaluating the performance where students could implement their theoretical knowledge on a practical basis.”
Moreover, teachers Gopal Khadka, B Khadka and Bhattarai also shared a similar view where Bhattarai said, “There should be more practical than theoretical studies.”
Student of Master’s Ist Year at Patan Multiple Campus, Rajendra Ghimire shared, “The challenge is students have to study theories of international figure which I think is not adaptable in Nepal’s context.”
(Source: The Himalayantimes)
