Following the enforcement of the National Education System in 1971, education gained immense importance in Nepali society. Higher education became a marker of success, and parents began prioritizing their children’s schooling, viewing it as a means to “kindle light in the darkness.” However, the rise of educated unemployment, the migration of skilled youth abroad, and the declining value of degrees have raised serious concerns about Nepal’s education quality.
As Chaitanya Mishra highlights in his article ‘Education Institutions and Educational Politics’, Nepali education remains rigidly formal, disconnected from individual lives and societal needs. When education is reduced to mere certificates, it fails to unlock human potential or empower people to live meaningful lives.
There are countless examples of individuals without formal education outperforming their degreed peers financially. This begs the question: Does formal education truly matter? Nepal’s education system often neglects practicality, focusing on academic credentials rather than life skills essential for career success.
Education is the state’s most crucial responsibility toward its citizens. While Nepal’s Constitution guarantees free primary education, over 75 percent of families still pay (directly or indirectly), widening the gap between private and public institutions. Accessibility alone is not enough—education must also be practical, adaptable, and high-quality.
The curriculum is designed as if students must master everything at once, leaving no room for exploration beyond textbooks. There’s also a misconception that educated individuals must hold “high-level” jobs, when education should instead cultivate better attitudes and understanding. This mindset restricts career freedom. Politicization and privatization further plague the system. Student and teacher unions should advocate for better education quality, but instead, they’ve become tools for political power struggles. Meanwhile, privatization has commercialized education, turning it into a certificate race rather than a means of real learning. Unsurprisingly, the value of the SEE (Secondary Education Examination) has plummeted over the past decade.
Manish Lamichhane
BA LLB, 8th Semester
Nepal Law Campus
