Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology Opened NOCs for Diploma, Training, Language Teaching, and Technical Education for Students Who Want to Study Abroad
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in Nepal has issued a new directive regarding the approval of educational studies, 2079 BS, which restricts the NOC for students who want to study abroad. Previously, from April 2, 2023, students did not receive NOC in language teaching, diploma courses, and technical education for studying abroad. However, the Ministry has revised the guidelines and opened NOCs for Path Diploma and Language Teaching Studies.
Revised Guidelines Allow NOCs for Studying Abroad for Diploma Courses, Language Teaching, and Technical Education
According to the revised guidelines issued on April 26, 2023, higher education now refers to education at the level of class 12 or higher, meaning that NOCs are available for studying abroad for diploma courses, language teaching, and technical education. The new guidelines will no longer permit students who want to acquire school-level education to go abroad.
New Arrangement for Additional Education after Acquiring Religious and Traditional Education
The new guidelines also include a provision for people who want to acquire additional education abroad after obtaining religious and traditional education such as madrasa or monastery. Students who wish to study in any class of school education opened in Nepal with a connection from a foreign country or educational institution will also not face any obstacles.
ECAN, FECON, IRIN, NAAER, KECAN, and the Nepal Educational Consulting Business Federation Ad Hoc Committee Protest Against the Guidelines
Despite the revisions, the umbrella organization of educational consulting donor agencies, including ICAN, FECON, IERIN, NAAER, KECAN, and the Nepal Educational Consulting Business Federation Ad Hoc Committee, opposed the guidelines. They warned that they would go on strike demanding its cancellation if the government did not cancel the guidelines by Sunday.
Consultation Committee on Approval Formed to Submit Suggestions to the Ministry
The government has formed a consultation committee on approval to make the work related to approval established by the directorate easy, effective, and organized, to solve the problems encountered in this regard. However, the Federation Ad Hoc Committee's coordinator, Rajendra Baral, criticized the government for issuing the guidelines unilaterally without consulting the concerned agencies and educational consultants. He accused the government of trying to curb the institution even in the educational consultancy business regulation 2079.
Guidelines Not in the Interest of Students and Educational Consultancy Business
President of ECAN Praka Pandey also requested the guidelines be revoked as they prevent students from pursuing their desired education abroad. He noted that courses such as diploma and advanced diploma, associate degree are standard international education after the 12th grade pass in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other developed countries of the world. The guidelines are not in the interest of students and educational consultancy businesses, as the health education fees, scholarships for students who want to study abroad, and scholarships provided by various embassies are not clarified in the guidelines.
While the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology open NOCs for diploma, training, language teaching courses, and technical education for students who want to study abroad, there are concerns from educational consulting donor agencies who believe that the guidelines are not in the interest of students and educational consultancy businesses. They have called for the guidelines to be revoked and have threatened to go on strike if their demands are not met. The Ministry has formed a consultation committee on approval to address the concerns and make the approval process easier and more organized.
Published on 29th April 2023
Kathmandu
