We federalised the State: But we forgot to federalise the universities
Summary
A decade after Nepal federalised, Tribhuvan University still dominates higher education, with Kathmandu continuing to pull students and institutions toward it. The article argues that decentralisation has not been matched by funding, staffing, and institutional capacity for provincial universities.
Key Points
- Tribhuvan University still accounts for 78 percent of higher education enrollment in Nepal, down only slightly from 84 percent in 2013.
- Bagmati Province holds about 44–46 percent of national higher education enrolment, while provinces like Karnali remain far behind.
- Women now outnumber men in higher education overall, but men still dominate science and technology across provinces.
- The article says Nepal confused federalisation with implementation and calls for sustained funding and better data for provincial universities.
