The entire staff set at the No Objection Certificate branch has been changed.
At the NOC branch located in Sanothimi under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, permanent staff who had been working there for 7–8 years were transferred, and contract staff were removed, with a new set of employees sent in.
“Until July, contract staff were working. From August, the contract staff were dismissed, and permanent staff were transferred,” a ministry source said, “Right now, a completely new set has been sent.”
After reports of irregularities surfaced at the NOC branch, the Ministry of Education had also formed an investigation committee. The committee concluded that misconduct had been taking place at the branch. Therefore, the ministry removed the employees who had been stationed there for a long time.
“To prevent irregularities at the branch and bring reforms, the entire team has been replaced. Honest employees who have not been involved in any controversies have been sent,” said a ministry official.
Previously, the post of computer operator at the branch was occupied by contract staff. Now all permanent employees have been sent, said another ministry official.
Onlinekhabar had found evidence that, when students could not provide the required documents, branch staff, in collusion with consultancies, would prepare fake documents, charge money, and issue NOCs in violation of procedure.
It was also found that NOC staff were uploading fake academic certificates into the system and issuing NOCs.
NOC is mandatory for students going abroad to exchange Nepali rupees for U.S. dollars. It should only be issued after verifying what the student intends to study abroad, what they studied in Nepal, which institution they plan to attend, and whether that institution is legally recognized. However, staff were found to have been issuing NOCs by taking bribes.
Victimized students reported that staff were charging bribes ranging from Rs 30,000 to over Rs 100,000 depending on the destination country. Students going to the U.S., Australia, Canada, and European countries were forced to pay hefty amounts.
The NOC branch, which had turned into a hub of bribery, had staff who refused transfers. Even those who were officially transferred continued to operate from the branch. As irregularities persisted, the ministry had kept the branch under close surveillance.
The ministry had formed a five-member task force coordinated by Krishna Prasad Kapri, Director General of the Center for Education and Human Resource Development. Based on the report submitted by this task force, the entire staff set was changed.
“A team of employees not entangled in controversies has been assigned to the branch. Now, students will not face difficulties,” said a ministry official.
