The Education Consultancy Association of Nepal (ECAN), representing hundreds of consultancies, has actually submitted a comprehensive modification proposal after the new regulations came into force previously this month, with conversations over the disputed provisions now under method.
The developments come as Nepal provided more than 123,000 no-objection certificates (NOCs) for abroad study in 2025, with Australia, Japan, the US, Canada and the UK remaining the leading destinations for Nepali students.
Authorized by Nepal’s Cabinet on July 8 and published in the official gazette with instant result, the policies change decades-old ministry guidelines with legally binding standards governing education consultancies, language teaching centres and preparatory classes.
Authorities state the measures are intended to reinforce oversight, improve transparency and better secure trainees following months of fraud investigations, authorities raids and problems involving education consultancies, replacing a patchwork of ministry guidelines that had actually governed the sector for several years but did not have the force of law.
While Dahal said ECAN supports stronger policy and greater accountability, he argued that several arrangements of the new structure would disproportionately affect genuine operators without dealing with the root causes of scams.
He likewise stated the guidelines were presented without significant assessment with industry stakeholders despite the sector’s central function in Nepal’s outgoing education community.
“First, the federal government’s understanding of this sector is totally detached from reality,” Bashu Dev Dahal, first vice-president of ECAN, informed The PIE News.
“For over 3 decades, our sector has contributed considerably to making the world’s finest education accessible even to trainees from the most remote locations of the country. These Nepalese students enriching themselves around the globe are the genuine seeds of our society’s better thinking, strength, and confidence, forming the very structure of Nepal’s future.
“As it stands, this policy will entirely mess up the sector.”
Among the new requirements are a compulsory Nepali rupees (NPR) 2.5 million (around ₤ 12,000) down payment, yearly licence renewals, a requirement for firms to own their properties or hold a minimum three-year lease, government approval for abroad education fairs, minimum infrastructure standards, consultancy grading, necessary digital payments and stronger financial liability for companies in specific circumstances.
Dahal said the cash deposit would tie up vital capital and force numerous small and medium-sized consultancies out of the marketplace, while restrictions on commissions from overseas institutions would remove companies’ principal income and ultimately increase expenses for students.
He argued the combined effect would make overseas education less available, especially for lower- and middle-income families, while grading consultancies based upon visa results was unscientific due to the fact that visa decisions are made by foreign governments instead of education agents.
Beyond the specific arrangements, Dahal argued the framework essentially misconstrued how Nepal’s education consultancy sector runs.
“The framework is fundamentally flawed and fails to understand our core functions, going so far as to restrict us from assisting students through necessary paperwork and even visa application treatments,” he stated.
“In addition, it totally overlooks critical industry sectors, using no policy for franchise models, EdTech companies, or B2B cooperations.”
Rather than requiring the policies to be scrapped, Dahal stated ECAN had proposed a series of changes, consisting of replacing the down payment with an insurance-based system, extending licence validity from one year to five years, legally identifying commissions received from abroad organizations, permitting managed education fairs rather of banning them, eliminating the proposed grading system and presenting more useful facilities requirements.
The proposal likewise requires a longer transition period for existing operators to abide by the policies, greater due process before licences are withdrawed, a warning-based method for minor marketing breaches instead of immediate licence cancellation, and clearer rules around approvals for in-office counselling sessions and student info events.
As stakeholders, we have a lot to state for the betterment of this structure, and we will only support execution after the needed amendments are made to create a strong, well-regulated, yet reasonable industry
Bashu Dev Dahal, ECAN
The reforms follow a continual crackdown on Nepal’s consultancy sector over the previous year. Authorities have actually investigated consultancies accused of scams, file forgery and misleading students, while cops have detained operators connected to an alleged fake UAE research study scheme, performed large-scale raids across Kathmandu Valley and targeted unregistered operators.
Regulators have also declared that some consultancies assisted in abroad employment under the guise of study abroad, together with accusations of visa guarantees, produced offer letters and rejection to release refunds following visa rejections.
Last month, stakeholders across Nepal toldThe PIE they supported stronger oversight, offered reforms focused on fraudulent operators without placing unnecessary problems on certified agencies.
After the guidelines were gazetted, ECAN released a phased protest campaign starting with discussions including students, moms and dads and education reporters before members used black armbands to work and staged presentations across significant cities on July 17. The association has actually alerted it will intensify to a nationwide operational shutdown if the federal government refuses to modify the guidelines.
Despite the protests, Dahal said the association stayed positive that settlements with the government would eventually produce modifications to the framework.
“We desire a seat at the table. As stakeholders, we have a lot to state for the improvement of this structure, and we will just support implementation after the required modifications are made to develop a strong, well-regulated, yet reasonable industry.”