Kathmandu/Nepalgunj:
For Vishnu Gupta, a 22-year-old pharmacy student from Nepalgunj, dreams of the future are tangled with frustration, delays, and uncertainty. “In India, a Bachelor of Pharmacy takes three years. Here, it takes nearly five. Even after completing the diploma, I have to wait more than a year just to get a licence,” he says, voice heavy with exasperation. “Why should our futures be delayed like this?”
Vishnu’s father, a small businessman, invested everything in his son’s education hoping he would build a career beyond the family business. But the broken system in Nepal is leaving him wondering if staying in the country is worthwhile. “I want to stay, contribute, but it feels like the system doesn’t want us to succeed,” Vishnu adds.
Young Voices Take to the Streets
The protests began when the government suddenly banned social media platforms, but they quickly became about more than online access. Young citizens, mostly Gen Z, are demanding education reform in Nepal and calling for the opportunity to secure their futures.
“People call us reckless,” said a 20-year-old protester from Kathmandu. “But how can we stay silent when our education, our future, and our lives are at stake?”
Thousands of students flooded the streets, waving banners and chanting slogans. The movement quickly escalated, with demonstrators storming government offices and even Parliament. The unrest left 51 people dead, including 21 protesters, nine prisoners, and three police officers. Nearly 1,700 people were injured, and more than 13,500 prisoners escaped from jails during the chaos, of whom only about 1,000 have been recaptured.
Despite the violence, the energy among the youth remains a mix of anger, urgency, and hope. “Our futures are being stolen. This is our fight,” one student protester said.
Political Turmoil and a Fragile Hope
In response to the unrest, Nepal appointed Sushila Karki as the first woman interim Prime Minister after tense negotiations involving the President and Army Chief. Parliament was dissolved, and elections are scheduled for March.
While these political changes signal a potential turning point, students remain cautious. For them, the real challenge is fixing the education system. Curfews are lifting, but tensions remain in sensitive areas. “It’s not just politics,” Vishnu said. “It’s whether we can finish our degrees on time, get jobs, and build lives here. That is our real battle.”
The Education Crisis Up Close
The inefficiencies are glaring. Bachelor of Pharmacy programs take far longer than in neighboring countries, licensing processes are opaque, and job opportunities are scarce. Many students are considering moving abroad — not because they want to, but because the system leaves them no choice.
“This is why so many of us leave,” Vishnu said quietly. “We love our country, but our futures are slipping through our fingers. We need change now.”
The education reform Nepal movement is not just about courses and diplomas. It is about reclaiming lost time, securing opportunities, and giving a generation the chance to thrive without leaving their homeland.
Fighting for Their Future
For Nepal’s youth, education reform is survival. The protests are more than demonstrations; they are a plea for justice, fairness, and a system that works. Students have risked their safety not only for themselves but for the future of all Nepali youth.
“This isn’t just about one degree or one career,” Vishnu said. “It’s about the future of an entire generation. If we don’t fix education now, we risk losing the brightest minds in Nepal forever.”
As Nepal enters this transitional phase, the streets echo with both pain and hope. The youth are clear: fix the education system, or risk losing a generation and their future. The message from the protests is urgent, powerful, and unmistakable — reform is no longer optional.