The Reality of Running an Education Consultancy in Nepal

EDUCAST, The education consultancy sector in Nepal is facing one of its most difficult periods in recent years. What was once a growing industry supporting thousands of students in their pursuit of international education is now under significant pressure from multiple directions.

Rising regulatory requirements, increasing operational costs, declining student numbers, frequent policy changes, and expanding compliance obligations have made it increasingly difficult for many genuine consultancies to remain sustainable. Under the new government guidelines, education consultancies are now obliged to deposit a bond of Rs 25 lakhs, along with several significant clauses that place the entire responsibility of students and the institutions they go to study on the consultancy itself. For many service providers, especially small and medium-sized firms, such obligations are extremely challenging and in many cases not practically possible to fulfill.

Education consultancies play an important role in Nepal’s education ecosystem. They are not merely commercial enterprises; they serve as a bridge between students’ aspirations and global educational opportunities. For many young Nepalis, these consultancies provide the guidance, information, and support needed to pursue higher education abroad. In doing so, they contribute indirectly to the country’s long-term development by helping students gain knowledge, skills, and international exposure that can later benefit Nepal.

There is no doubt that the industry needs strong standards. Efforts to improve quality, transparency, and accountability are both necessary and welcome. However, such reforms must also be practical, fair, and developed through meaningful consultation with stakeholders. In the digital age, counseling can be done through online platforms and classes may run virtually, yet the government appears more concerned about the physical infrastructure of consultancy offices. This approach overlooks the reality that consultancies are service providers, not formal education bodies like schools and colleges. The requirements designed for universities and colleges cannot be applied in the same way to consultancy offices or to short-term classrooms where students attend language or test-preparation classes for only a few days to a couple of months.

A healthy education sector requires cooperation among the government, educational institutions, and consultancies that operate with integrity. Rather than creating an environment of conflict, all parties should work together to ensure that students continue to receive reliable guidance while the industry maintains high standards.

This is a time for collaboration, not confrontation. If Nepal is to preserve an education consultancy sector that has helped thousands of students achieve their academic and career goals, then balanced policy, open dialogue, and mutual understanding are essential.

Protecting responsible consultancies means protecting the opportunities they create for Nepali students. It also means safeguarding an industry that has played a meaningful role in connecting Nepal’s youth with educational pathways around the world.

D Raj Dhital, Founder Director – Education Matters