UML Lawmaker Karki Calls for Bigger Investment in Higher Education

CPN-UML lawmaker Arjun Kumar Karki has said the government should be more generous in investing in higher education. Presenting an expenditure reduction proposal related to the education sector in the House of Representatives on Monday, Karki said Nepali students are achieving excellence in prestigious universities and different sectors around the world despite limited resources. He said even students from remote and less developed areas have proven their ability at the international level, showing that Nepali talent is competitive in the global market.

Karki said that during his time as Nepal’s ambassador to the United States, he met more than 800 professors of Nepali origin teaching mathematics and English there. He noted that the current budget has allocated around 11.28 percent of the total budget, or Rs 288 billion, for education. However, he said this is still far below the minimum 20 percent commitment expected for the education sector. He also criticized the scholarship system, saying poor university-level students receive only around Rs 400 per year, which is ineffective in today’s inflation. Karki stressed that Nepal’s education system should now move beyond certificates and focus on learning outcomes. He said curriculum should be practical and skill-based, directly linked with employment, entrepreneurship and national development. According to him, Nepal’s human capital development and long-term prosperity are possible only through sufficient investment, effective scholarships and skill-oriented education.