Kathmandu, July 31

The Ministry of Education has requested students not to seek consultancy services from IDP Education Student Services Pvt Ltd, stating that although the consultancy was registered with the concerned government agency, it had not fulfilled necessary legal procedures.

Issuing a press release today, the minister said the consultancy firm, which was set to begin its services from August 1, had not taken permission to provide consultancy services.

“The company has acquired registration certificate from Office of Cottage and Small Industries. However, a company needs to acquire permission from the Ministry of Education or the Department of Education to run education consultancy services. This is to inform that the consultancy firm has not acquired permission to run such services.”

The government has also requested the consultancy firm not to begin its services until it acquires permission or be ready face consequences as per the laws.

IDP Education is set to operate as a joint venture of Australia-based ADP Education and Nepali investors. The firm says apart from consultancy services, it will also conduct IELTS examination.

Bhupendra Sitaula, a partner of the joint venture, said, “We have submitted all necessary documents to the ministry seeking permission to operate by mid-May. However, no government official has visited our office all these months.”

Sitaula also said that the Industry Promotion Act required that the company wanting to operate as a joint venture with foreign investment needed to start operation within six months after registration.

“Although the government says it wants to attract foreign investment, its actions show that it wants to protect the syndicate prevailing in the education consultancy sector in Nepal,” Sitaula said.