KATHMANDU. Dr. Rudra Raj Pandey, an established entrepreneur in the Nepali Information Technology sector, digital creator, and founder of Deerwalk College, is always in the spotlight due to his engaging presentations and outspoken nature on social media. He possesses an incredible art of storytelling and an attractive style that easily captivates any reader or viewer. In the past, his role in developing Nepal’s IT sector, creating employment, and preparing Nepali students to compete in the global market has been unparalleled and highly commendable.

However, a recent policy and commercial statement he shared on Facebook has raised serious ethical questions. In the course of justifying his college's expensive tuition fees, Pandey has promoted his commercial product by disparaging Nepal’s government colleges and other private institutions, drawing widespread criticism.

His controversial status on social media is presented below exactly as written:

A degree from a good college isn't cheap.

Many "trolled" me when I said that Deerwalk's 4-year Computer Science degree costs a total of Rs 20 Lakhs at a rate of Rs 42,000 monthly. To complete a degree of Deerwalk's level in America and Europe, it costs at least Rs 3 Crore or 2 Lakh US Dollars.

  1. I have seen the work of those who studied at the world's top universities. Deerwalk graduates are no less qualified than graduates of the world's top institutions.

  2. Many colleges in Nepal are operating classes in 2-room spaces and providing 4-year degrees for 5 Lakhs without any facilities. The condition of 90% of the students graduating from those colleges is miserable.

  3. Even in government colleges like Ascol and Patan, a 4-year course costs more than 20 Lakhs, but that amount is borne by the government. The entire expense of Deerwalk must be paid by the student. Compared to government colleges, the education at Deerwalk is many times better.

  4. Good private schools have already started charging a fee of 50 Thousand for Class 1. Why the whining when the college fee is 42 Thousand?

  5. Higher education run by private institutions isn't cheap. If you want it cheap, go to a government college. The deserving ones get scholarships at Deerwalk.

It is a democratic country. People should be able to choose houses, cars, and educational institutions according to their capacity. Private educational institutions exist in all countries of America and Europe, and they are expensive too.

Positive Past, Ethical Decline Present

No one can overlook the contributions Dr. Pandey made in the past to strengthen the foundation of tech education and introduce corporate culture in Nepal. His content creation skills and style of inspiring youth are truly impressive and praiseworthy.

If he had only stated through his status that "Deerwalk's degree is excellent, we do not compromise on quality, and our fee of 20 Lakhs is justified based on our investment," it would have been completely professional, natural, and ethical. Showcasing the established image of one's college and demanding a fair price for quality is within the right of any entrepreneur.

But, unfortunately! He chose the path of scolding Nepal’s historic government institutions and other private colleges just to project his product as superior, which has narrowed his professional stature.

Key Points of Criticism:

  • Ruthless Attack on Government Colleges: Public colleges like ASCOL and Patan have historically produced scientists, engineers, and IT experts leading the nation by educating poor, talented, and middle-class students from all corners of the country at minimal fees. Minimizing their invaluable contribution by claiming "education at Deerwalk is many times better" and displaying arrogance by stating "if you want it cheap, go to a government college" is completely unbecoming of an intellectual figure.

  • Insult to Small Colleges and Students: Several small private colleges in Nepal are striving to provide quality education at affordable fees despite limited resources. Claiming that 90% of the students graduating from there are in a "miserable" state is a severe blow not just to those institutions, but to the hard work and self-respect of middle-class Nepali youth and their parents who are struggling day and night to make an identity in the market.

  • Flawed Comparison Between Education and Luxury Goods: Comparing education to luxury commodities like houses and cars is another major ethical error. Education is a matter of social transformation and a fundamental right of a citizen, which cannot be equated with pure market profit-and-loss or the status symbol of an expensive vehicle.

Dr. Rudra Raj Pandey, who always spreads positive messages through his engaging presentation style, has hit the sentiments of the public education system and ordinary middle-class students hard this time for his commercial interests. An enlightened educator and established entrepreneur needs to understand in time that one does not need to erase someone else's existence or belittle others to sell quality.