Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 26

In a situation where ‘educated unemployment’ is on the rise, there is a need for education that provides employment and lends the possibility to earning money. This is attainable through a system that imparts education, aimed at improvising the indigenous knowledge base of rural people and hence uplifts the standard of living in rural areas. For all these, educationalists and experts have put the concept of a ‘rural university’ forward as a suggestion for various sectors of society.

At a workshop organised today by Rural Area Development (RAD) Nepal, the concept gained acute momentum with support from all sectors virtually. The main objective of the university would be to improve the quality of rural life by imparting affordable education in order to create self-employment opportunities.

Within the current scenario of the nation at present, the concept of establishing a rural university for sustainable development of remote areas should be considered timely, appropriate and almost overdue.

Ranjan Dahal, assistant professor at Tribhuvan University said that the concept is very apt for this moment in time and he expressed enthusiasm at the idea. He added, "The aim of the university is to impart education to create employment opportunities for the sustainable development of villages and the nation as a whole."

Jhalnath Khanal, ex-minister and member of standing committee CPN-UML opined that in developing the education sector, the overall condition of the country would be improved. "There is a necessity to restructure the entire system of education." He also blamed the national leadership for not already assimilating, analysing and synthesising the problems of this sector.

The rural university will identify the constraints for rural development and provide the type of education, skills, knowledge and training that will facilitate the overcoming of existing limitations.

"The concept should also be broadened to preserve natural resources and promote rural tourism," said Dahal, adding, "It should further enable rural people to explore the possibilities in tourism and initiate productive programmes for socio-economic enhancement."

The university would not necessarily provide degrees to students. Instead, the creation of self-employment opportunities for sustainability would be regarded as more important.

Participants at the workshop pointed out the various challenges and weaknesses of the concept and also suggested a few more possible inclusions. The need to provide affordable education and to promote rural tourism for funding, were highlighted.

On the occasion, Minister of General Administration, Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu stressed a need for scientific and job-oriented education.

RAD executive committee member, BK Shrestha presented the working paper at the workshop.