Open University of Nepal (OpenU) initiative brings together people from around the world to break the barriers to quality education in Nepal, especially for the rural, remote, and marginalized populations. The idea advanced by some educationists and the Ministry of Education in Nepal developed a momentum in recent times after CFFN teamed up with NRNA to mobilize non-resident Nepali (NRN) talents for the cause. This initiative is inspired by a dream of bringing quality education to the margenalized people of Nepal at an affordable cost through the knowledge contributions of NRNs and friends of Nepal living around the world. We hope to bring the light of knowledge to the margins of society through the efforts and contributions of people like you.
Context
The vision for the university was born from the contemplation on some genuine problems that are plaguing Nepal today.
- The demand for higher education is so great that the combined capacity of all institutions has fallen far short.
- Rural, remote, and marginalized people, especially women are bound to the villages due to family obligations and financial limitations.
- There is an enormous task of upgrading teachers and government employees that are serving the rural and remote areas.
- Due to poverty, many young people are dropping out of high schools and universities to take temporary employment in Arabia, Malaysia, and other countries around the world. Their educational advancement comes to a full-stop the day they step into the aeroplane.
- There is a lack of computer-based learning materials even in the most fortunate of schools that have computer laboratories.
- Those who have acquired knowledge and skills to transform the education in Nepal live in big cities and foreign countries while the needs remain unaddressed in towns and villages.
In Nepal, more than 80% of people live in rural areas, where insurmountable barriers exist in accessing education. UNESCO data indicate a mere 9% tertiary education attendance of age adjusted groups for the whole of Nepal; the rural figures would be much lower. Further, nationally the figure for women is reported to be a dismal 3%. These levels are unacceptably low for supporting robust economic growth. In the view of the World Bank, for countries to achieve sustainable economic development, the Age Participation Rates in higher education should be around 40 to 50%. This demonstrates the enormity of work remaining to be done in university-level education in Nepal.
Institutional Need
Due to the increasing need of specialized skills for employment, the demand for higher education is growing rapidly, but institutions to supply such education have not kept pace with demand – a real void is felt in rural areas. Further, the few urban institutions of higher education in Nepal are too expensive for ordinary Nepalese from rural areas. Higher education in Nepal, therefore, is in short supply and unaffordable. Building human capital for a prosperous economy remains a tall order even after decades of concerted efforts.
Urbanization, emigration and foreign employment are causing depletion in rural populations. Therefore, building traditional universities in rural areas is uneconomical as they run the risk of being eventually closed down. Meanwhile, youth leaving for foreign employment are unable to continue their education in host countries because of their restrictive fees and policies. And the educational needs of a mother, a farmer, a teacher, or a working person still in the village remain unaddressed because traditional institutions neither exist there nor offer classes with flexible hours. While some satisfy their need for higher education through self studies, it is difficult to do so in fields like mathematics, science and technology. Distance education is an effective solution to address these problems.
Opportunities of Open University
Many countries have successfully used Open University platforms as the medium to break barriers and meet their higher education needs. Nepal can also achieve this by following the proven track records of distance education tools, technologies, and practices, and mobilizing qualified people living in cities and foreign countries. The Nepali Diaspora with a world class education coupled with intimate knowledge of the Nepali hinterlands can become a catalyst in Nepal's educational frontier. It is time to build a local economy by bringing knowledge and education to people on site rather than uprooting them from rural communities and crowding into cities. An open and distance learning system could bring quality higher education to people - both rural and urban - while ensuring mass-access and low-cost. The added benefit is that services could be available to people beyond Nepal’s borders.
NRNA and CFFN aim to contribute to accessible distance education by establishing Open University of Nepal in partnership with the Government of Nepal, as well as other public and private agencies, and by bringing together people who are in need of help and those who are looking for opportunity to help.
Outside Knowledge Opportunities
In recent decades, millions of Nepalese have migrated to different countries around the world. A considerable number has pursued higher studies, and many are even educating citizens of their adopted countries. Diaspora members have accumulated valuable experiences in teaching and learning, and many more have become successful entrepreneurs and professionals, willing to contribute with their expertise to education in Nepal. Similarly, large pools of non-Nepalese, who maintain close affinity to Nepal, are willing to lend their support in overcoming the barriers to education. Development experts, educationists, educators, naturalists, and many other professionals show keen interest to support us as we seek to achieve the millennium development goals in Nepal.
