In the media

Nepal’s anti-corruption body charged nine individuals, including two former District Education Officers (DEOs), the school principal, accountants, engineers, and construction committee members, for embezzling funds during school construction in Khotang. Though Rs 3.21 million (approx. 24,300 USD) was budgeted, a technical assessment found only Rs 1.63 million (approx. 12,300 USD) actually spent on the building.

The draft law on universities is facing opposition from academics who argue it allows political interference, compromising educational quality. The proposed legislation would grant political figures such as the education minister and provincial chief minister’s significant roles in university governance, contrary to calls for academic autonomy. Critics advocate for academic autonomy and a board of trustees composed of experts. The law proposes the replacement of the University Grants Commission with a High-Level Education Commission chaired by the Minister of education.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a charge sheet at the Special Court against 11 people for embezzling a huge amount of money from the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) to conduct training programmes for teachers. The school administration and CTEVT officials colluded to embezzle state funds by submitting fake bills, including for never conducted trainings.

The year 2014 was a rather eventful year for Nepal's educational sector. Following a number of manifestations against and arrests for corruption, the Nepalese government is taking steps to curb malpractices in education.

Nepal's anticorruption commission says that tens of thousands of government employees, including teachers, police, and senior bureaucrats, have been using fake university degrees. The Commission for Investigation on Abuse of Authority says it suspects that 10 percent of the Himalayan kingdom's 140,000 schoolteachers are using diplomas purchased from India.