A growing number of Nepali students have started rejecting scholarships provided by China and other countries, sparking a debate on the issue. Recently, the Chinese government awarded scholarships to 67 Nepali students for postgraduate and PhD studies. However, only 51 students ultimately applied for the scholarship.

Why Are Students Rejecting Scholarships?
According to Shivkumar Sapkota, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, there are multiple reasons why students selected for scholarships are not proceeding with the final enrollment process.

"Some students reject scholarships because their preferred subject is not available, they see better opportunities elsewhere, or they do not see a promising future after completing their studies," said Sapkota.

Despite a growing number of students seeking scholarships for higher education in Nepal, interest in scholarship opportunities from countries like China appears to be declining.

Prime Minister Raises Questions
As more students turn down scholarships, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has also taken an interest in the matter.

In a social media post, Oli questioned:

"The Ministry of Education opened applications for various scholarships, but some quotas remain unfilled due to a lack of applicants. Why is this happening? Do Nepali students no longer need scholarships, or is there an issue with the selection process?"

His remarks triggered widespread debate on social media. Some questioned why students still eager to study abroad are not prioritizing Chinese scholarships.

Lack of Trust in China?
According to education experts, the number of students choosing to study in China was significantly higher in the past decade. However, students now seem to prefer destinations like the US, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Educationist Man Prasad Wagle from Tribhuvan University stated:

"Students who have studied in China often cite language barriers, concerns over the quality of education, and visa-related complications as major issues."

He added that the number of Nepali students opting for countries like the US, Australia, Canada, and European nations has risen sharply in recent years.

Growing Trend of Studying Abroad
According to recent data from Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepali students spent over NPR 47.40 billion on foreign education in just the first five months of the current fiscal year.

This indicates a strong interest among Nepali students in foreign education. However, the rejection of Chinese scholarships may be due to weaker job prospects after studying in China, lower trust in Chinese degrees in Nepal, and better opportunities in other countries.

Future of Scholarships
Government officials believe that if China and other countries want to keep their scholarships attractive for Nepali students, they need to revise their programs to align with student preferences and career prospects.

"If we do not review the selection process and make necessary improvements, the problem of unfilled scholarship quotas may persist in the coming years," said Nilkantha Dhakal, Information Officer at the Ministry of Education.

This trend of students rejecting scholarships presents both new opportunities and challenges for Nepal's higher education system.