Kathmandu, May 25

The number of students receiving ‘no objection certificate’ to pursue studies abroad have been increasing over the last decade.

In the last two years alone, the number of students applying for the certificate almost doubled.

According to the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, around 13 to 15 students on an average applied for no objection certificate in the fiscal 2007-08. The number rose to 45 in the fiscal 2012-13, while an average of 138 students received the letter daily in the last fiscal.

The ministry said 32,489 students were issued no objection certificate in the fiscal 2015-16. The number has almost doubled now with 62,109 students having received the certificate until yesterday even as two months still remain for this fiscal to end.

“Around 256 no objection certificates were issued today alone,” said officials, adding, “Although the number of certificates issued cannot be a basis to determine the number of students going abroad for studies, it clearly shows that a lot more youths are leaving the country than a decade ago.”

Educationist Kedar Bhakta Mathema opined that although prospects of a bright future motivated youths to pursue studies abroad, the trend was counter-productive for the country in the long run. “Our education system is on the verge of collapse due to this trend. Higher educational institutions should improve the quality of education so that students may get international standard degrees within the country.”

Educationist Bidhya Nath Koirala said instead of blaming the youths, the government should formulate policies to retain youths in the country. “Many of the students choose to study abroad not for studies but for employment. So, there’s no point in complaining until we create adequate employment opportunities in the country.”

According to Koirala, a recent research by educationists has shown that 70 per cent of students seek to study abroad to get employment there. The education ministry said the no objection letter was issued to 32,743 students seeking to study

in Australia, 11,181 students to study in Japan, 2,485 to study in USA, 1,997 to study in China and 1,978 to study in India.