Experts Emphasize the Need for Higher Education to Be Both Theoretical and Practical

Various experts have emphasized that higher education should be both theoretical and practical. Educationist Vidyanath Koirala remarked that professors who align with political parties may belong to separate organizations, but their thoughts and actions are identical, creating contradictions in society.

Speaking at an event organized by Jai Nepal Foundation, Koirala stated, "Education policy should be formulated by combining an individual's knowledge with science. We should not worry about a decline in the number of students. Internationally, there is also a practice of merging universities and campuses, but education must be clear and practical. Education should also be promising in itself."

He further added that it is not necessary for students to be physically present; online education can be conducted, and students' abilities are adaptable—what they do not study today, they might study tomorrow, and vice versa.

Nayan Singh Mahar, head of the Nepali Congress Education Department, stated, "Reform in education is essential, qualitative improvement is necessary. Fifty-two percent of those who pass go abroad. Education should include entrepreneurship. I am in the Nepali Congress's education department, and I believe something must be done. Reforms are needed, and they must be implemented. The possibility of brain drain exists, and education must address this. Policies should connect education to production and production to the market."

Tribhuvan University Senate member Angadmani Gautam emphasized that the state must pay attention to preventing the migration of students going abroad for education.

Chairperson of the Nepal Professors’ Association, Ramesh Joshi, stated that when designing curricula, special attention must be given to making them suitable for Nepal's climate and maintaining originality.

Vice President of the Democratic Professors’ Association, Krishna Kant Parajuli, said, "A single teacher teaches in a government college, and there are no results, but the same teacher produces results in a private college. The difference lies in management; it must be effective."

Professor Shantikrishna Adhikari of the Sanskrit University noted that if officials cannot work together, it is impossible to envision reforms in the education sector.

Professor Loknath Dulal of Tribhuvan University stated that the government and university officials in Nepal must take responsibility rather than becoming part of the problem themselves. He stressed that professors' associations should focus on policy-making.

Vice President of the Sanskrit University Professors’ Association, Bishnu Panthi, mentioned that although political party manifestos talk about free education and healthcare, the reality is quite the opposite, causing problems due to the lack of consistency between principles and practice.

Professor Chandradeep Lamichhane of Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhawan, Sanskrit University Senate member Prof. Dr. Narayan Chalise, Chairman of the Tribhuvan University Professors’ Association Basanta Dhakal, Chairman of Nepal Sanskrit University Mukunda Lamichhane, Professors Bhavukraj Nyaupane, Bhuma Pandey, Govinda Guragain, Ramchandra Adhikari, Rajendra Raj Wagle, Advocate Samip Ghimire, Senate member Bishnukumari Sapkota, Shatrughan Prasad Gupta of the Nepal Public Campus Association, Gyanu Timilsina of Jai Nepal Foundation, and Tara Khadka expressed their views during the event.

The ideological discussion program was conducted by Prof. Dr. Dhaneshwar Nepal under the coordination of the Jai Nepal Foundation's Ideation Unit.