Completing high school should be a joyful milestone. Yet for many young people in Nepal, it is often the most confusing stage of their lives. Once board exams are over, the pressing question emerges: What next? Some enroll in bachelor’s programs without knowing whether it is the right fit. Others switch subjects midway, losing valuable time. Many prepare to go abroad, not out of ambition, but because they see no future at home. What begins as uncertainty often grows into stress, anxiety, and even depression.
One of the major reasons behind this confusion is the absence of career counseling in schools. In classes 9 or 10, students are asked to choose between science, management, or humanities. Yet most have little understanding of what opportunities these streams might lead to. Instead, they follow the advice of parents or friends, often without proper guidance.
The weak job market compounds this problem. According to the World Bank, one in five young Nepalis is unemployed. Even those who complete bachelor’s or master’s degrees often fail to secure meaningful jobs. Years of study feel wasted when education does not translate into livelihood.
Vocational and technical courses could have been a practical alternative. However, families rarely trust these pathways because diploma graduates too often struggle to find decent employment. As a result, society continues to view bachelor’s and master’s degrees as the only respectable routes to success.
Adding to this dilemma is the overwhelming craze for studying abroad. Every year, thousands line up for No Objection Certificates. While some succeed in building lives overseas, many take on heavy loans and unrealistic expectations. The saddest part is that for many, migration is not a choice but a compulsion, a way to escape the sense of being stuck in Nepal.
This confusion over careers does not remain limited to academics. It spills into mental health. Studies indicate that around 10 per cent of Nepalis experience mental health issues at some point in their lives, with anxiety and depression particularly common among youth. Suicide has become one of the leading causes of death among young people in Nepal. The lack of direction after high school, though rarely acknowledged, is a silent contributor to this pressure.
The solutions are neither complex nor unattainable. Schools must begin offering career counseling to guide students in identifying their interests and future options. Young people should be given exposure to real workplaces whether offices, workshops, hospitals, or farms before making critical subject choices.
Universities should also provide transparent data on graduation rates and employment outcomes so that students and parents can make informed decisions. At the same time, society must learn to respect vocational education, which, when connected with industry, can offer both skills and dignity. Equally important is mental health support in schools, as well as honest discussions about the opportunities and risks of studying abroad.
Parents, too, must play their part by listening more closely to their children rather than imposing rigid choices. Students, on their side, should seek advice from seniors or professionals working in fields they aspire to join. Even a simple plan what they want to pursue, what backup options exist, and what the next steps for the coming months should be can prevent years of confusion.
Nepal has already achieved progress in expanding access to schools. The challenge now lies in guiding students meaningfully once they complete high school. With the right support, they can waste less time, feel less pressure, and discover genuine opportunities. If young people are given clarity and hope, they will not only see a brighter future for themselves but also help illuminate the future of the nation.
