Media Education in Nepal:Gap Between Colleges Universities and Media Industry

Presentation notes for the national seminar on “Overcoming Challenges of Journalism Education Nepal” organized jointly by National Integrated College and Media Action Nepal with support from University Grants Commission. 16-17 vMay, 2016 Kathmandu

Media Education in Nepal:Gap between colleges\ universities and Media Industry

Background

It has been four decades since the inception of journalism education in Nepal
Currently, TU, PU, KU and Higher Secondary Board offer journalism course.
For many decades, there were limited colleges that offered this course and the scope is expanded
The journalism education was largely expanded in the last one decade but failed to keep the same pace
It was a subject of major attraction but it is losing its glamour
Now, the number of students have shrunk and many colleges have already closed their department, more colleges are set close department

Why the number if student is becoming low?

Initially, there was attraction due to its glamour, name and fame
When students did not get the opportunity
Students who joined media houses got frustrated and passed them others
The prestige of journalism shrunk hugely
The issue of minimum wage de-motivated new comer
It seems that journalism is gradually losing social prestige and it has impacted the journalism education

Problems with Media Houses

Media houses are not cooperative
They are reluctant to provide students internship opportunity
Some media houses exploit students charging money

Media houses put the byline in stories instead of encouraging

They only encourage that colleges are not producing the type of manpower actually they need.

Lack of institutional approach

Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu University and Purbanchal University are not making approach with Media houses on institutional way
there is lack of discussions between colleges and university about the actual requirement
Colleges are non- cooperative students, students are left alone to deal with media houses when it comes to practical works

Gradual improvement

But the situation is not totally pessimistic
People who have acquired the journalism education are getting promotion to upper level and number is going up
Media houses are realizing that along with language, other journalistic skills are required
When the people who have acquired journalism education, they will promote the students

Lack of infrastructures

There are no colleges which provides comprehensive courses on broadcasting and online
we talk about multi-media journalism but universities lack such infrastructures
Recently Kathmandu University and other colleges have just started to set up PM Radio but we have already moved ahead
There is not investment in the colleges

Blame-Game

Media houses put blame that academicians cannot work
Academicians say media houses are being run by those who do not have theoretical knowledge
Media houses want who can write not who could be good journalists
Language is only one qualification but media houses think it is all in news room

Gap between Teacher and student

Students do not about their target and objectives
I personally have found several cases that student do not know why they are studying journalism
Teachers do not have journalism experiences
Journalists do not have sound academic background to teach in the colleges
There is no balance between Theory and practice
India houses put blame that academicians cannot work, while academicians do not what to do
Students do not know about their target and objectives
I personally have found several cases that student do not know why they are studying journalism

How to improve practical exam system?

We all know the status of practical
Students are getting marks so they think; they do not need to do practical
TU show make drastic measure to improve the practical
Practical is key but it has been neglected
We all know that students are preparing fake project work but we are not doing anything

What next?

There is a need of collaboration between Media houses and colleges
Government should the policy to ensuring that media houses ensure to provide space to media houses
There is a need of interaction between two sides

Kamal Dev Bhattarai, 16 May, 2016