Kathmandu – A new umbrella organization representing educational consultancy professionals has been established to address issues faced by businesses providing counseling services to Nepali students aspiring to study abroad. The Nepal Educational Counseling Services Association (NECSA) was officially launched during a grand ceremony held on Friday at Hotel Smart, Dhumbarahi.

The association was formed to fill the gap of a common platform that can take guardianship of the challenges and needs of education consultancy professionals in Nepal.

The inauguration ceremony was chaired by newly elected NECSA President Santosh Khanal, with Amar Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Health, and Information Technology, serving as the chief guest. Renowned comedian Manoj Gajurel made a special appearance, while representatives from foreign educational institutions, language test providers, and distinguished personalities from various fields attended the event. Around 100 educational consultancy professionals affiliated with NECSA were present.

Welcoming the guests, NECSA Senior Vice President Ashish Kunwar stated that the inauguration was not just the beginning of a new chapter but the start of a new era for Nepal’s educational future. He emphasized NECSA’s commitment to promoting international education while maintaining the highest professional standards. Stressing that the trust of members, partners, and well-wishers is the association’s greatest strength, he called for partnerships that serve the interests of all stakeholders.

During the event, certificates were handed over to the newly elected NECSA executive committee by the chief guest. Additionally, three individuals were honored for their contributions: Ramesh Lamichhane, Editor of Matra Education, received a media excellence award, while NECSA’s legal advisor Sudip Aryal and member Prabin Acharya were presented with special recognition awards.

Highlighting NECSA’s objectives, goals, and future plans, General Secretary Ganesh Belbase explained that the association was formed to create a unified approach to tackling challenges in the educational consultancy sector. He stressed that NECSA aims to bring all professionals offering transparent, ethical, and reliable services under one platform. He reaffirmed NECSA’s commitment to prioritizing student interests and ensuring long-term improvements in the consultancy sector.

The program also featured an entertaining and meaningful performance by artist Manoj Gajurel.

Speaking at the event, NECSA’s Senior Advisor and Sejong University Professor Dr. Yam Khatri shared his experience of living in Korea, describing it as an excellent destination for education. He expressed confidence that NECSA’s establishment would help Nepali students gain better access to prestigious Korean educational institutions and assured his full support to the association.

Certificates were distributed to NECSA members, while attending guests were honored with tokens of appreciation.

Chief guest Amar Bahadur Thapa remarked that while studying abroad is not inherently bad, students should return with knowledge and skills to contribute to Nepal. He expressed his opinion that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) should be restricted for those going to Europe and America, allowing only scholarship recipients to study there. Thapa criticized political parties for lacking commitment to education reform, which he said has hindered the progress of the School Education Bill. He warned against introducing provisions in the Education Act based on personal interests, urging instead that demands in the national interest would be accepted without delay. He called for boycotting those who politicize education and wished NECSA unity and integrity in promoting ethical business practices.

Other speakers congratulated NECSA on its formation and expressed their best wishes for achieving its goals.

In his concluding remarks, President Khanal stated that NECSA was born out of necessity after the organization faced challenges during the recent NOC-related issues with Korea and did not receive adequate support from other associations. He announced that NECSA plans to organize Nepal’s first Korean Education Fair within a month, along with several other programs in the near future.

Khanal described NECSA as a symbol of collective commitment, dedicated to promoting transparency, honesty, and quality consultancy services, while creating a student-friendly environment. He added that the association aims to engage in policy dialogue, build member capacity, and expand international opportunities for students. Expressing gratitude to all attendees, he officially concluded the program.

Here is NECSA’s newly elected executive committee: