Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Raghuji Pant emphasized that students should not be granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) without obtaining their diplomas. Speaking at the National Dialogue Program on Sustainability and Excellence of Community Campuses held on Saturday, Pant said that students should not be sent out of the country immediately after passing grade 12.
He argued that the government and all political parties should collaborate on a decisive policy to prevent students from immediately leaving the country for studies after completing Grade 12. He emphasized that these students are still very young, and their departure abroad without a diploma is casting a dark shadow on the nation's future.
Sharing his belief on not sending undergraduate students to foreign under any circumstances, he highlighted concerns about consultancies allegedly misleading students with false promises of high-paying jobs in foreign countries like Korea. According to Minister Pant, this situation is significantly impacting Nepal's higher education system. He pointed out that while official bank records might show 100 billion rupees, the amount of money leaving the country illegally could be as high as 200 billion. He asserted that the nation must collectively make a bold decision to address this issue.
Minister Pant clarified his stance on students pursuing education abroad, stating that those with exceptional talent who secure scholarships from reputable universities could be encouraged to go, even immediately after Plus Two. However, he emphasized that this should not be a general practice for all students.
He referenced instances, such as the Trump administration's actions regarding foreign students, to illustrate the potential financial repercussions when students spend vast sums of money abroad.
Minister Pant expressed deep concern regarding the growing allure of foreign countries among students, stating that this trend is hollowing out the nation from within. He asserted that the Ministry of Education bears the responsibility for implementing reforms to address this issue.
