KATHMANDU, JULY 15

Every year, thousands of students across Nepal complete their Secondary Education Examination (SEE), unsure about what subject to study next. As colleges open their doors to new admissions, trends from colleges and student choices suggest that Management is one of the more preferred subjects among SEE graduates.

While Science, Humanities and newer subjects like Information Technology (IT) and Hotel Management are also in demand, many colleges report a high number of enrollments in Management programs, regardless of their grades.

This trend, however, marks a notable change from past patterns. A survey conducted in 2007, by Ram Prasad Sharma, on 'How Students Select Higher Secondary Schools?' found that Science was overwhelmingly the top choice. 81% of SEE graduates (then SLC) who chose the subject scored above 70 percent, followed by Management at 21%, and Humanities at 14%. At that time, Science was widely considered the most prestigious and future-secure option, especially among students with higher academic performance. However, only 19% of students choosing science had a score below 70 percent. 79% of students in Management and 86% in Humanities.

Today, although interest in Science remains high, students are increasingly opting for Management, often due to its perceived flexibility, broader career scope, and relatively lower pressure.

According to Shiva Kumar Sapkota, an official at the Ministry of Education, interest in Science remains strong, but it is not always the final choice for many students. 'Most students, in terms of interest, are drawn to Science. But a lot of factors lead students to pick Humanities or Management,' he said. These factors could include family background, financial resources, and career goals, and more. Sapkota added that more than 50% of students with A or A+ grades tend to opt or show an interest in Science. 'The gap between private and government school students has significantly narrowed in recent years. Their subject preferences are now quite similar,' he said.

For Sanjog Ghimire, who completed his SEE from Lalitpur Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, the decision to choose Management was based on both interest and practical advice. 'I wanted to study subjects like accounts and economics,' he said. 'Science felt too pressuring and many of my elders also recommended Management.' He added that most of his classmates made the same decision, regardless of their academic performance.

At Universal College, which offers both +2 and undergraduate programs, Principal Dr. Shiba Datta Gnawali said that while Science and Hotel Management continue to attract interest, Management has seen the highest number of enrollments. 'Students today are more focused. Unlike earlier, only those who seriously want to pursue medical or engineering chose Science. Others prefer IT, Management and Hospitality with more clarity,' he said.

In recent years, IT related courses are also gaining popularity, especially when paired with business studies. 'We offer non-credit IT courses for all students, regardless of their main stream,' added Dr. Gnawali. 'There's definitely more interest in tech than there was a few years ago.'

Similar patterns were observed at The Chandbagh School, where Principal Chandrayan Pradhan Shrestha said most students picked Management, often alongside optional Computer Science. 'There has been a noticeable shift in subject preferences, with a growing focus on Computer Science and Data Science. The changing job markets and future opportunities motivates students to pursue these subjects more actively than before.'

He also noted that the gap in subject preferences between government and private school students have narrowed. The relationship between grades and subject choice appears to be changing too. 'Students with high grades often chose Science in the past, but now we see many top scorers opting for Management or IT,' said Shrestha.

Rashmi Mainali, Principal of Don Bosco College, said that Management continues to attract the largest group of students at her institution. 'Students today are career-focused. They want practical experience, opportunities to work while studying, and courses that align with the market. That's why BBA-IT and similar programs are gaining traction,' she said.

SEE graduate Adarsha Ruwali, who studied at Kantipur English High School, is one of the few in his class opting for Science. 'I want to pursue engineering, so Science made sense,' he said. 'But most of my friends chose Management, regardless of their GPA.'

As subject offerings diversify and career paths become less linear, educators say that student choices are becoming more thoughtful and less tied to conventional norms.