Rabindra Pokharel

Kathmandu:

An agricultural economy, with a predominantly underdeveloped rural nationscape, Nepal is in dire need of competent politicians, social scientists and rural development experts. With the academics and jobs scenario facing a sudden redundancy in the numbers of science students, medical doctors and engineers, rural development promises a fresh avenue of occupation for young aspirants and a must-research topic for those high school students who like to plan early their careers in life.

The three year bachelors degree in rural development, introduced by Classic International College, is a first of its kind. This job oriented course aims at producing middle level manpower for development projects by acquainting students with the requisite conceptual knowledge of rural development and enabling them to apply appropriate strategy for desired results. A high school diploma is the eligibility requirement for admission in this course.

Similarly, masters in rural development is a programme designed to produce high-level intellectual capital for the same and the eligibility requirement is a bachelor’s degree in any stream. Besides theoretical knowledge, the college claims to equip students with a special training in computer and proposal writing, simultaneously developing research capability. The college has provisions of scholarships for the needy and provides placement guarantees to deserving candidates. MRD classes are run during evening to help working students.

Rural development studies were first introduced by Tribhuwan University designed for the masters level. The move though beset with minor setbacks was the first such move to introduce rural development studies. In the year 1999, Classic International College introduced a three-year specialisation course in Rural Development in the Bachelors level with affiliation to Purwanchal University. Classic International College has further made a concerted move to introduce the programme for the students aspiring to acquire a master’s degree in the subject under a different name — Classic College for Higher Studies, which is affiliated with the Tribhuwan University.

“The objective of introducing the specialisation course in Rural Development is to produce development cadres for executing development works efficiently,” says Kamal Singh Rathaur, principal, Classic International College. He further explains that the acute crisis facing the country cannot be addressed unless “manpower familiar with different aspects affecting development is not produced”.

“Sustainable Development” is the buzzword in the present context. The entire nation is desperate for development and millions of destitutes are looking forward for economic prosperity. Nepal is an underdeveloped country with 90 per cent of its total population residing in the rural areas of the country. Over 30 per cent of the population subsists below poverty line, which is but a ghastly fact that’s hard to acknowledge. About 40 per cent of the adult population are illiterate and these godforsaken people lack basic health care amenities and access to safe drinking water.

Without a substantially detailed strategy any herculean endeavour to change the appalling scenario would be a farce. Development is a far-fetched dream without the development of the rural areas, which constitutes a major chunk of the territory of Nepal. Rural development is thus the sine qua non of the development of Nepal.

So, if you are looking for a relevant subject that ensures a promising career at the same time, rural development could be your choice. And Classic International College is definitely one place you would find yourself heading for.