Overhauling Social Work Education

The development of Professional Social Work (SW) education in Nepal is in its ‘youth’ stage. It has completed 17 years since its inception in 1996. Like any adolescent, SW education in Nepal is experiencing complex issues and challenges

.
Many social work graduates drop out prior to their Masters in Social Work while over 1,000 students from more than 34 colleges under four different universities graduate each year in Nepal. But not even one-tenth of these graduates opt for Master’s degrees. Many argue that having insufficient institutions to pursue Master’s degree program in Nepal is the primary reason behind such a huge dropout rate. Others add that the low quality of the available Master’s-level SW education is the key reason for such withdrawal.

I think the problems lie within the colleges offering Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. There’s a crisis in the philosophical, pedagogical and administrative understanding of SW education. Philosophical relates to “why should a college start a social work education and how should it orient its students who want to pursue this discipline.”

Overhauling Social Work Education (Comment Version)

Published in The Republica-Gennext of 3rd April, 2013

I am very happy to receive comments on my article 'Overhauling Social Work in Nepal' published on 3rd April, 2013. I hope to see changes in Social Work (SW) education system in Nepal. I am sure SW educators and institutions will work collectively for improvisations. 

Here are some of the important comments that I received. 

Ritesh Manandhar, Social Worker, writes, 

• Insightful piece indeed and a slap with the reality of how it is going! Wonderful! 
  I would like to forward a feedback (just a thought): Going through the initial paras, I was looking for a little background/context, if you had also somewhere mentioned how is 'social work' really practiced in Nepal, the wrong concept of 'we people' taking foreign social work practices as best suited all the time, high time need to create our own but effective ways of social work practices, etc., which in a para or two would do, I guess. WITH this, I think, it would also shed a little light upon to the general people around from a social work graduates' eyes! (I know, this could be just out of context but there is also a possibility to weave the context and get a flow.) Nevertheless, the article is already 'a way to go'! Thanks for being the voice on behalf of all of us!

Dipendra K.C, President, YUWA says

• "सर बधाई छ है ! अब चाहिँ सोसल ओर्क कलेज अलि डराउनु पर्ला...कलमहरु चल्न थाले" 
  
  

  Very rich and well articulated, all the variables considered are quiet interesting and strong.....keep writing more.. You gave me good insights on SW education condition in Nepal .. - Nirakar Sapkota

  We should interlink with the everything in happening in society. I don´t think social work is not good profession. The problem starts from colleges but not from the profession. The colleges misused the social work profession. Yes we need Social Work policy in Nepal to get secure the social worker´s future. - Ganesh Budha

  Great topical article. This will definitely push social graduate schools to enhance their quality with criticism, suggestions and pinching on their pcckets by weeding out poor quality colleges who do not perform as per students´s expectations! - Amulya Tuladhar, professor, KU

   

From, 

Antony Chettri, Social Worker, India

Ex. Lecturer, St, Xavier's college. 

Dear Kanchan,

I read it and tried to leave my own comments below the article hope it got saved (as my internet was slow when I was writing the comment). What I want to say is that good articulated article. I like your interest and passion to really think on the issues related with social work education in Nepal. The issues are really pertinent to Nepal and also for south Asia. I congratulate you for your good effort.

To share you something that may guide you to improve your next article on this topic (I hope that you will go on writing on this topic), I would like to propose that be more authentic by collecting scientific data from the field and analyze it from different perspectives. It will enhance your article. Like when you talk about licensing - do not just say it because it is there in some of the western countries but weight it with proper rationale. Secondly if people start MSW or apply for MSW with financial consideration, then is it totally wrong? Answer this question with proper data so that alternative thoughts are enforced.

When you write such article please avoid being moralistic... people will either hate to read it or will put it aside after reading it. No action will be taken. So be data based with proper rational.

You have done it well and my suggestions are just to reflect... if you like it use it or just throw it in dustbin.

Wish you all the best. I missed you all teaching that will be one of my biggest regret in life. But still u all think me as your teacher I am obliged for it.

I love you all.

Your humble Anthony Sir 

***Please click on the link below for the article***

Published on The Republica-Gennext of 3rd April, 2013