NITYA NANDA TIMSINA

KATHMANDU, DEC 25

The lure of a European degree has left many Nepali students stranded in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Delta University (DDU) and a Kathmandu-based educational consultancy, Softwarica, allegedly fed Nepali students wrong information have landed them in trouble in a foreign land.

Though no data is available, a student recruiting agent in Kathmandu said an estimated 70 Nepali students are currently studying at DDU. The latter is offering them free air tickets home and an option for an online degree in Nepal after amassing thousands of Euros as six months' tuition fees and insurance.

Prakash Timilsina, a student originally from Panauti, told our correspondent that dozens of students who came to the university with dreams of quality higher education have been cheated.

Timilsina himself saw an advert in a newspaper that lured him to the Netherlands. Hundreds of students attended a seminar at a star hotel in Kathmandu on September 2, 2004 where they were told about Dutch work-study programs.

They thought this was a wonderful opportunity for them to grab an European degree. "Mr Deelstra (president of DDU) had also attended the seminar and assured us that everything was very easy in the Netherlands. He told us that we could work three hours a day," Timilsina said.

Each student paid 4,050 to 6,000 euros, which covered 6 months' tuition fee, insurance and a residence permit. But once they landed at the university, they were told that they could work only 10 hours a week. Now, they don't have money to make the rest of the installment payments. Returning to Nepal without a degree seems even more humiliating as their parents have already spent a huge amount.

Arjun Dahal from Lakeside, Pokhara, Bhola Pudasaini of Kathmandu, Umesh Rijal of Jhapa and Bishal Prasain made headlines in the Netherlands after they told the local press that they were cheated by their university.

"We were badly treated by the University and IND," Dahal said.

Ghanashyam Ghimire, manager of Softwarica, dismissed the allegations. "Not all students are complaining. We have sent many others. We are ready to face legal action if we had done anything wrong."

Similarly, Jules Plevier, director of Education at DDU, denied having lied to Nepali students in Kathmandu. "The university is trying to send Nepalese students back to Nepal with free air tickets and an option for an online degree, where students will be supported by a local representative," he said in an e-mail sent to the KOL.

An official at the Consulate of the Netherlands, requesting anonymity said, "Hundreds of Nepalese have entered Western Europe in recent years due to conflict in Nepal." The official also accused the educational consultancies of taking advantage of Nepal's precarious situation to make profits.

source: KOL

काम गर्न गाकाहरुको त जताततै बिचल्ली भाको थियो
लौ अब विध्यार्थिको पनि बिचल्ली?
ल ल प्रगति हुँदैछ।

I remember something similar happening some years back... though it was not the job part but the money part. There is a college in Nepal named SANN International College which helps Nepali people apply in various American Universities. The head of it all is Narayan Shrestha. There were 2 kinds of programs one could apply through. "The Exchange program" or the "Twinning Program." The exhnage program was not neccessarily for the students of SANN. All students could go and apply.

They would have to present $7000 on spot and then submit other documents. The college would apply for the student and do everything till the time the student went for the visa interview. There was only 2 students that were not given the visa (J-1). After reaching the states the student either had the option of paying Narayan Shrestha $7000 every semester and stay as an exchange student or change the status and pay the respesctable amount that the school required. (The 7000 included room and board too!) This seemed like an easy deal though most of the money was going into Narayan Shrestha's pocket.

Now the twinning program was totally messed up. It was for the students that were studying in SANN and had atleast completed 1 year of study there. They would have to pay Narayan Shresthe 5500$ ($1500 for tuition. $500 for other application fees and $3000 was Sann ko fees). They had to go to the states and find room and board for themselves and from next semester they would only have to pay $1500 for tuition. Seemed like an okay deal.

The weirded out thing was that 11 students applied and only 2 got the visa. The 2 student after reaching their respective University, were asked to pay 2000$ more for their tuition. According to the International office, The tuition was $3500 and not $1500 (with scholarship). Narayan Shrestha decided to stay out of the picture for a long time. The students were threatened to be sent back to their countries if they failed to provide the required amount.

Narayan Shrestha finally showed up and exempted the $2000 for that semester, but their fees would be $ 3800 from the next semester (Including the international scholarship.) The program was halted after that but the 9 people who were rejected the visa were rejoicing. There have been certain other times that Mr.Narayan Shrestha has done immoral things and lied to the Nepali students but this is 1 thing I have personally seen. The man still resides in CO and gives false hopes to thousands of Nepalis and shatters them as soon as the student enters the US!

What they are doing is illegal.They should be shut down. There is this one called memorex which is the worst.I hope friends will come with more details and informaton on this.

mr. Narayan must send to Jail for his entire life.

Ghanashyam and Narayan look like Dalal,,,,,,, they misguid Nepale People who don't have enough money to travel. T o get soem commision they misuse some one's Ghar Bar,,,,,,, it is why they must face the lifeimmpresement.

Hell ya man thaha,
I agree with u bro. They shouldnt be allowed to play games with innocent student's future. People like Narayan, ghanshyam should be punished by appropriate person.

Why dont Royal Corruption Control dont punish these guys instead of putting innocent leaders into custody. Why should innocent student be victim????? Just because of Narayan's hunger for Dollar.........Unacceptable!!!!!!!!!

I"heard a lot about narayan and his SAAN. There is no doubt he should face some legal charges. There are lot of other brokers like him who send students to other pasrts such as aussieland, bangali ko desh, and chin. They charge like 60-70 grand at the beginning and even if you don't get no visa they will still keep majority of the money. thats a complete bs. the broker system should be abolished from these kinda stuffs. Its a freakin business every where and in every damn thang. Freakin traitors, leave the educational sector alone!! It ain't no battle ground for you to make money outta someone's misery!!!