Kathmandu - There was news that foreign exchange worth US$ 7 million have been received in the last four months (mid- July-mid Nov) from foreign students. This news comes at a time when students going to study abroad have spent and equivalent of US$ 335 million.  This amount paid by foreign student is less than two percent of the amount spent by Nepali students abroad. -According to data from the Nepal Rastra Bank (National Bank), the amount of money going abroad for study has increased by about 28 percent compared to the same period of the last fiscal year. 

Pawan Dev Majhi from Danauli, Pipara Rural Municipality (RM), Mahottari, has secured a full scholarship for the Bachelors of Medical Education (MBBS) Entrance (MEE) Examination. Twenty-two year-old Pawan Dev is possibly the first person from the Musahar, one of the most marginalized terai-dalit groups to get an opportunity to study MBBS on Government Scholarship (GS), the news reported. He was unable to attend preparatory classes due to financial constraints, so he studied through YouTube and managed to pass the exam in his first attempt. Fundraising has been started through social media in the initiative of Musahar Community leader Pachchu Majhi to raise US$ 520 for the admission processes even though he got the scholarship for MBBS, the news mentioned.

Meanwhile, Satyanarayan Safi of Bariyarpatti RM, Siraha is too busy to receive congratulations from his relatives having secured a full scholarship for MBBS.  Through hard work and dedication from a thatched hut, Satyanarayan from another impoverished Dalit family was able to secure a scholarship to study MBBS, mentioned the news. 

These two students from poor and marginalized communities have achieved a reward for their diligence to study in this coveted subject. It has been proven once again that if there is a will, material comforts are secondary. This is their personal achievement! Thanks to Prof. Dr. Govinda KC for his campaign when it comes to the policy of medical education to make medical education accessible to the marginalized and disadvantaged community. Until a few years ago, it was unthinkable for students from socially disadvantaged groups to aspire to study medicine. Medical education was highly commercialized: "If you have money, become a doctor, if you don't, can't!  K.C. fought with his satyagraha (fasting-until-death protest) against the injustices in medical education, not only systemize medical education and entrance exam, also ensured access to socially and economically disadvantaged communities. The result of K.C.'s struggle is the fact that many Safis and Majhis have access to medical education. This process must continue until the marginalized groups participate in society in proportion to their population, like all other social groups. This incident is just one example of the outcomes of Dr KC’s struggle.

The convocation of more than 89,000 students who have completed their studies from various faculties of Tribhuvan University (TU) has been held Japanese Nobel Laureate Professor Takaaki Kajitasa, as the guest of honor. 

Speaking to the convocation, Prof. Kajita  stressed that  "Currently, global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and geopolitical tensions are testing the humanity." 
 He said “I spent a large part of my life as a physicist trying to understand the mysteries of the universe. Physics teaches us that every process takes time and that progress remains invisible until great achievements are made. The same applies to the success in life”. He however encouraged the graduating students in the gathering, that this required strong willpower, continuous effort, and the belief that you are moving towards your work and goals even if the results are not immediately visible. He elicited his own experience as an example, towards the end of 1986, “I found that the background phenomena observed in the experiment of proton decay at the Kamiokande Detector Center, namely neutrino interactions, were inconsistent with existing theory. My research on neutrinos began with a curiosity why these things happen. (He got Nobel Prize in 2015 for Neutrino Experiments –Ed.) So I encourage you to choose the path of curiosity and courage.” "The world needs people who are not afraid to ask difficult questions, who are committed to finding answers to those questions, and who innovate," he underlined.

Out of 89,199 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students who graduated from June 15, 2024 to June 14, 2025 (one academic session), mere 18 percent (16,380 students) participated in the convocation ceremony, the news quoted. TU is said to be planning to hold the convocation outside the Kathmandu as the number of students participating in the convocation ceremony was considered low, wrote Onlinekhabar news portal.

Kamal Poudel, Bhavana Adhikari, and Saurabh Koirala, toppers of last session of TU considered regular study and hard work to be the formula for their success at the ceremony, mentioned the news. All three top achievers completed their studies from public schools, underscored the news.

Addressing the convocation ceremony, Prime Minister Sushila Karki said that no matter where the graduating students will be or whatever field they may be working, they should never forget humanity, compassion  and social responsibility towards the nation urging the academia to make positive contributions to building a bright future for Nepal and the world through knowledge, hard work, and determination - the news published.

After the task force formed under the leadership of University Grants Commission Chairman Devraj Adhikari completed two rounds of discussions to remove the provision that the Chancellor be the Prime Minister in universities, there are reports that the task force has discussed an alternative, there is the news.
Nepal Sanskrit University President Bhojraj Joshi has issued a statement protesting the planned attack on University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Dhaneshwor Nepal who was assaulted by an unknown group of 5/6 people at his residence, sprayed black ink on Deputy Administrator Khim Bahadur KC as well as Vice Chancellor's Personal Secretary Cholendra Rijal, published the news.

Gandaki University has once again been embroiled in controversy over the process of making contract teaching staff permanent in the name of internal competition, prohibiting a prescribe open competition. The Gandaki Provincial Government is preparing regulations to fill permanent positions for all contract employees, in contrary to the provisions of the University Act, mentioned the news.

Nepali student who was homeless in London has been rescued and sent back to Nepal.  The student from Panauti Kavre Palanchok, who arrived at the University of Sunderland to study BA Honors on November 25, 2024, was sent back to Nepal with the support from the British Non-residential Nepalese Association (NRNA). According to the news, as the university informed the Home Office (Ministry of Home Affairs) that he had not paid his fees, his visa was cancelled and even his part-time job was lost. The student was thrown out of his room by the landlord. When he was homeless, he spent nights in a railway station for a week, the NRNA helped him.
Computer Science Alumni and Computer Science Student Association have locked down the TU Service Commission and the Institute of Science and Technology. The lockout has been imposed demanding the postponement of the first paper examination for the Computer Science Officer post, which is scheduled to be held on December 15.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has launched an investigation on the issue of students who were duped to go to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the name of pursuing higher education. The CIB is currently studying the so called Educational Consultancies that sent students from Nepal, the details of students who got to Dubai through those organizations, and the legal status of those educational institutions. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has also collected letters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and student complaints and sent them to the CIB for further investigation. Earlier, the MoEST had formed a four-member investigation committee under the coordination of Parashu Ram Tiwari, Deputy Secretary of the Higher Education Branch, to investigate the matter. According to the news, Police arrested five people on charges of vandalizing the college by angry students over the disturbances at the British College in Thapathali and the controversy over the students being stranded in the UAE.

MoEST Minister Mahabir Pun, in his decision on December 29, had given 10-point instructions for institutions licensed under the 'Directive on the Operation of Higher Education in Relation to Foreign Educational Institutions, 2059'. There was report that the ministry is continuing to monitor the implementation of the instructions given to higher education institutions operating under the affiliation of foreign educational institutions. Instructions have been given to keep the details of all types of program-related fees charged from students transparent and visible to everyone and the ministry has directed educational institutions to submit a certified copy of the same to the ministry within 15 days and to conduct programs only in the locations specified in the permitted subjects, levels, and periods. But in the name of offering foreign degrees, these institutions have been defrauding students and violating prevailing policy provisions. The ministry has received complaints about activities that are against the guidelines, negative impacts on student learning, and lack of transparency in fees and scholarships, the news mentioned.

The recommendation committee formed to recommend names for appointment to the vacant posts of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of Nepal Open University has invited applications. Interested and eligible persons can apply within office hours on December 25, 2025, quoted the news. 

Baburam Bhul has become the first person to earn a PhD degree from Nepal Open University.  Mr Bhul has completed his PhD in Development Management under the Faculty of Management and the Law, the news mentioned. The Bhul community live in Far-west and Karnali provinces, belong to the Dalit group.

A joint bench of Justices Durga Bahadur Bishwakarma and Yagya Bahadur Rana Magar of Tulsipur High Court has continued the interim order issued on November 10 to stay the notification for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of Rapti Institute of Health Sciences Dang by the Health Ministry.

Minister Pun has said that parents should agitate for school education reforms. Through social media, Pun said that parents should protest to eliminate the politics that is being practiced in many schools across Nepal, mentioned the news.

Teachers getting involved in politics or university officials being appointed based on party affiliation are considered responsible for dilapidated situation of our education system. If this were improved, it may be little, but not likely to provide a complete solution. Whether it is a university or a school, it is difficult to improve unless talented students from influential parents in the society enroll in public educational institutions and demand quality.  The supply side does not improve without stronger demands. 

Professors or teachers at these educational institutions act as if they have come for a feast: they are not under a pressure to make things work. They depend for everything on government money.  Unless the principal or head teacher or campus chief is also responsible for generating and managing resources efficiently, the mere presence or absence of such a worked will not make much difference. Already now, schools or colleges that are doing well are doing so by raising resources from parents. This generates ownership to the institution and responsibility to both teaching and learning sides. 

Even if the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education are not ex-officio Chancellors and Co-Chancellors, if the Vice-Chancellor is not qualified, there will be no fundamental difference in university reform. It is learnt that efforts are being made to get the President to agree to issue an Ordinance to manage the situation where the Minister of Education and the Prime Minister are not appointed as ex-officio Chancellors and Co-Chancellors. Of course, this certainly sends a message that the education sector is serious about reform, but it is not enough without mechanisms to develop a sense of responsibility and ownership. In this context, Education Minister Pun's call for parents to take responsibility is logical. It is not enough to supervise the mammoth structure of the university without making it more efficient. One reason, privately funded educational institutions are ‘doing well’ because of not only profit-motif but also have a size that is manageable from their capabilities. The university's feudalistic management style must also be addressed.

Ratna Shova Secondary School in Majhthana, Pokhara Metropolitan City, has been serving cooked meals to its students for Rs. 30 while it easily costs over 100 anywhere else. The school has arranged such a facility for students of grades 8, 9, and 10 with the aim of improving the quality of education (grades in the exam at the least! - Ed), there was the news. To make student learning more effective, the school has been conducting classes since 7:30 in the morning, making it easier for students coming from far away to study and the school stated that it provided meals at a low price to lighten the financial burden of parents.

Parents of Bhagyodaya Secondary School, located in Ujeli Danda, Bhirkot Municipality, Syangja, have also been preparing day meal at the school. Since the government provides free midday meals to students from kindergarten to grade 6, parents take turns attending school to prepare and serve day meal, the news mentioned.

Bags made from nettle (locally called allo) were distributed to students studying in public schoos in Furumbu, Phungling Municipality, Taplejung. Bags made from allo were distributed to 240 students studying in eight public schools in the ward. Bags were purchased and distributed to students from a budget of US$ 3,470 allocated by the Municipality, the news quoted.

The above three actions (less expensive meal, cooking meal in turns and the distribution of bags from a local product) may be small, but they are indicative of the innovation brought aboutt locally. Such actions are matters that the Federal Level cannot even conceive let implement alone. These are evidences of why it is desirable for schools to be managed locally: smaller it is easier it is to manage!

Due to the cold wave, various municipalities across the country especially in the southern terai belt have closed schools to protect children from the cold, there were many news.

The National Examination Board has announced that the forms for the registration for the annual examination to be held in 2026 for Grade 12 have been opened for distribution.

The Metropolitan City's Municipal Education Committee has discovered that 107 schools within the Kathmandu Metropolitan Area have obtained licenses but are not in operation, the news published. According to the news the Metropolis has given such schools an ultimatum to contact the Department of Education in 15 days.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a case against the then head teacher of Manohar Secondary School in Gongabu, Tokha Municipality, Head Teacher Basudev Adhikari and teacher Kalpana Paneru. A case has been filed in the Special Court on charges of corruption by preparing false documents and correcting government documents, mentioned the news.

Students of Shree Mavi Sirpachaur in Junichande RM of Jajarkot have beaten up and injured teacher Bir Bahadur Basnet. Teacher Basnet beaten up by students for biased judgments in a running competition in the school, mentioned the news.

The school nurse, who is responsible for taking care of the health of students at the school level, is themself in trouble, there was the news. During a review of the 'One School, One Nurse' program by the District Public Health Office, Lalitpur, stakeholders noted that school nurses had to work on a contract basis without a permanent position, there is a lack of adequate salary and facilities, a lack of proper working environment, and a single nurse is forced to serve more than a thousand students and lack of cooperation from the school administration has been reported, the news quoted.

In an article in Gorkhapatra titled ‘Parties in Educational Reform’, Prof. Dr. Krishna Kant Parajuli has written that to improve Nepal's deteriorating education system, it is necessary to change not the existence of the parties but the thinking, culture, and practices developed in the parties.

An article published in Gorkhapatra titled ‘Opportunity for University Reforms’ Ramji Dahal wrote learning from past experiences, that even if the current system of the Prime Minister serving as the Chancellor is removed to make the university an academic institution, that step could be a starting point to end the current situation.

Surya Prasad Pandey in Gorkhapatra under the title 'Graduated student's degree is a weapon for nation building' wrote it is necessary for graduating students to use the degree they have received not only as a personal achievement but as a means for socialization, moral development, promoting honesty, and nation-building.

Similarly, Bishal Lamsal has wrote an article in Kantipur titled 'Is the university a factory of knowledge or a certificate?' Nepal's universities have become political arenas, laboratories of party power structures and undue influences rather than the centers of education; the parties have interfered in the appointments of professors, departmental heads, and in budget allocation to expand their influence, the article mentioned.

Purpose of this news review is to classify and synthesize the educational content of the week and provide objective comments from the point of view of social justice and creative pedagogy including the environment. It is aimed to the policy makers and stakeholders to help make informed decisions. In this joint effort of the Center for Educational Policies and Practices (CEPP) and EduKhabar, material from daily newspapers - Kantipur, Gorkhapatra and The Himalayan Times, online news portals - Online Khabar, Setopati and Ratopati and the 8 o'clock news of Nepal Television and 7 o'clock news of Himalaya Television is summarized and presented with commentary on relevant issues. We have covered the two weeks contents from Dec 20, 2025-Jan 2, 2026 in this issue and this often is the translated version of Nepali edition - The Editor.

Read this analysis in Nepali : समारोहमा घट्दो रुची, १८ प्रतिशत मात्रै सहभागी

विदेशी विद्यार्थीबाट एक अर्ब नेपाल भित्रियो !

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