Financing Higher Education Through Student Loan in Nepal

Student loans refer to cost sharing in tertiary education which includes tuition and other expenses. It provides access to higher education to students from all economic backgrounds. A well planned student loan system can therefore help educational institutions manage their resources making higher education accessible to students who otherwise could not afford it. Although student loans have been in practice for more than half a century, it still needs to gain traction in developing countries like Nepal. Nepal, coming from Gurukul educational practices to modern day educational system, has to leapfrog to manage its resources to provide access to higher education to all interested and capable students. Central planning and funding is no longer practical in modern day world because of the diverse need for human capital and other resources. It is time for Nepal to look into implementing a well planned student loan practice that provides access to higher education to students from all walks of life."