Number of students applying for no objection letter doubles in 3 years.

The number of students applying for no objection letter at the Ministry of Education (MoE) to go abroad for higher studies has doubled in three years. 

While 10,258 students had applied for no objection letter at the ministry in the fiscal year 2011/12, more than 20,000 have applied for the same in the fiscal year 2013/14, according to MoE. 

Over 80 percent of the applicants get visa after producing the MoE´s no objection letter, government officials and educational consultancies said at a function organized in the capital on Tuesday. 

According to MoE Joint Secretary Dilli Rimal, Nepali youths are going to more than 60 countries on student visa. To study in Japan, a student has to spend Rs 1 million to 1.2 million on an average whereas the cost goes up to Rs 1.2 million- Rs 1.4 million for education in western countries, including the US and Canada.

According to Rimal, around 600 firms are waiting for the ministry´s permission to run education consultancy services. 

Educationists Tirtha Khaniya said that the misconception among guardians that their children can excel in life only if they acquire education in foreign countries has been leading to brain drain. He also said that 50 percent of the students who go abroad for further studies do not complete their education. 

“As they do not complete their studies they take up odd jobs. They do not want to return home to tell their parents that they quit studies half way,” mentioned Khaniya.

In the present context, students mostly prefer to pursue higher education in Australia, US, UK, Canada, Japan, China and India, among other countries. 

The number of students leaving for Australia has gone up in recent years, according to ECAN. Similarly, Nepal ranks 10th among countries sending the highest number of students to the US. Most of these students leave for the US after completing their higher secondary education. 

ECAN Chairperson Rajendra Baral said political instability, frequent protests and strikes in colleges have compelled students to go abroad for further studies.