Present Situation of Forestry Education In Nepal

Eucalypts's log










Present situation of forestry education in Nepal

With the aim of producing grassroots level and middle level manpower in the area of Natural Resources Management in Nepal, Institute of forestry was established as an only national level academic institution.
The institute started as the Nepal Forestry Institute at Singh Durbar in 1947.Then it was shifted to Bhimphedi Makawanpur in 1957-58.After the completion of building constructions by Indian Co-operation Mission the Institute was moved to Hetauda in 1965.This institute was run by department of forests, Nepal until July 1972.It became part of the Tribhuvan university,, the first and biggest university, in the same year. Then only the Nepal forestry Institute was renamed as Institute of Forestry (IOF).Until the late 1970s it produced only technician grade foresters (Ranger Course). Now The IOF is providing 2 years ISC forestry, 4 years BSc forestry, 2 years MSc forestry and PhD too.
Now IOF is running its campus in Hetauda and Pokhara and Kathmandu. In Kathmandu we have private forestry college under the IOF TU.
Every year IOF take admission of 80 students in ISc forestry and 111 in BSc forestry. The IOF is well equipped by the tools and technicians but the reality is very worst.
IOF is getting assistance from USAID,IDA,World Bank ,ITTO and many more National and international agency. But there is lack of practical knowledge. The education system is exam oriented. Teachers are trying their best and students are trying their best but due to political instability the time schedule of IOf is being unmanaged and disturbed. Recently due to CA poll the six month semester become 9 months semester. No one care about this. And the courses will not have finished the administration is compelled to change its exam schedule and whole years plan becomes disturbed. Now the one year has passed admitting in IOF for BSc and we haven’t gave the final exam of second semester. It will be only after tihar. Then what will be our third semester? Who cares about this?
The present political situation is responsible for the unmanaged system of forestry education. No politicians are giving care of producing good and well forest technician. We have loss great forestry personnel in chopper accident in Kanchenjunga conservation area. The forestry sector is suffering from their absence. There is no straight policy of government for the improvement of forestry education in Nepal. The Private college Kathmandu forestry college is only one private forestry college but it is suffering from the lack of students. It has to take the students who gave entrance in IOF Hetauda or Pokhara. Though TU gave affiliation to it but it is not giving student and the private college is also not attracting students in forestry sector. In present context the education system is running in competition. No perfect market is there. Monopoly competition market system is being seen in education system.
IOF did not do any advertisement or camp for promoting and attracting students in forestry sector. If IOF bring some effective strategy than it will get more competitive students. Now every student are putting forestry as a second option. First priority goes to MBBS or Engineering than only to other like agriculture, forestry and so on.
So all great personnel working in IOF and TU should think about it. They should not let the forestry education from being degraded. We all should think our responsibility. Teachers should be updated, students should be conscious and careful and no political influences and activities should be done in education. Then only the degraded forestry education system can be upgraded. Otherwise we will not be able to compete in international market.

Suraj Upadhaya