SURKHET: Many students in the Karnali Province leave their villages after completing their Class 12 examinations. Some choose to pursue higher education abroad, while others gravitate toward urban centers and some discontinue their study.
This phenomenon has had a direct impact on colleges in the province as most of the 63 colleges – affiliated with Tribhuvan University and Mid-West University – have seen student numbers in their Bachelor’s programs fall in recent years.
Bhagiram Bhandari, chief of Sani Beri Education College in Rukum West, said he has observed a decline in the number of students, primarily because the youth opt to leave their villages after completing Class 12. “The dropout rate is also high as students are leaving for urban areas to pursue subjects of their choice and better employment prospects,” he said. “Those from financially stable backgrounds pursue modern subjects in urban institutions, while those from disadvantaged families are compelled to seek foreign employment opportunities.”
He added that students leave their villages due to the uncertainty of finding employment after their studies. “Some go abroad, while others enroll in urban colleges. This has a noticeable impact on colleges in rural areas,” Bhandari added
Sano Bheri Education College currently has 205 students, including 113 females.
The situation at Jumla Multiple Campus mirrors this trend. In the 2019/20 academic year, the college boasted 2,200 students, but approximately 50% dropped out midway, according to Dr. Om Prakash Acharya, the college’s chief. Currently, the college has around 1,000 students.
Acharya attributed this decline to the opening of new educational institutions. “There are numerous options available to students, which has led to a decrease in enrollment at established colleges,” he said. The college is planning to introduce new programs in law and humanities faculties to attract students.
Tila Karnali Multiple College in Kalikot has also witnessed a decline in student numbers, as many students seek quality education and job opportunities in Surkhet, Nepalgunj, or Kathmandu. “The number of students in rural colleges is dwindling due to this migration,” Rudra Prasad Sapkota, the college’s chief, explained.
Last year, Tila Karnali had 250 students. But this year, the figure has dropped to approximately 200.
Chaturdev Hira Surendra Purna College in Mugu has experienced a consistent 10% annual decline in student numbers over the past few years. Prof Parek Bahadur Raut believes that students prefer urban areas for better education and employment prospects. “Many have moved to urban areas to prepare for Public Service Commission examinations,” Raut said. “Our physical infrastructure and teaching faculty are not up to par, which has reduced student interest in rural colleges.”
Narayan Multiple College in Dailekh has also seen a decline in student numbers. According to Campus Chief Nar Bahadur Shahi, the number has dropped from 600 students in 2021/22 to 500. Shahi also attributed this trend to the lack of quality education and job opportunities in rural districts. “We are offering BED and BBS programs at the Bachelor’s level. However, students feel that these programs do not guarantee employment,” he said, suggesting the government to introduce agriculture science programs to retain students.
Dhananjay Subedi, chief of Dolpo Campus in Dolpa, has also observed that most students do not stay in their villages after completing Class 12. “A significant number of students pursue education and employment opportunities in urban areas and abroad,” he said.
Currently, about 200 students are enrolled at Dolpo Campus.
Interestingly, colleges in remote Karnali districts have a higher proportion of female students, as families often send their sons to urban areas for quality education. Kali Bahadur Pun, chief of Nalgad College in Jajarkot, said: “Community colleges are primarily attended by our daughters and daughters-in-law.”
However, Salyan has experienced an increase in student numbers, with Bangad College enrolling 250 students compared to the previous academic year. Ganesh Bahadur Chand, the college’s chief, noted, “Most of our students are female, as male students are leaving villages for better prospects. Our daughters and daughters-in-law are somehow keeping our colleges alive.
Experts attribute the decline in rural college enrollments to the short-sightedness of universities. Nanda Bahadur Singh, vice chancellor of Mid-West University, emphasized that students would be less inclined to leave their homes if colleges introduced new subjects that offered employment opportunities after graduation.
“Colleges offering new subjects haven’t seen student footfall go down. Along with new programs, effective teaching and learning are crucial in retaining students,” he said. According to Singh, Mid-West University, which had about 7,500 students four years ago, now boasts around 13,000 students.
