Nepal, Feb. 27 -- Nepal's higher education system is flawed. Plagued by years of political interference, most of the universities in Nepal have taken great hits to their reputation recently. Controversies ranging from cronyism and nepotism in the hiring of professors to plagiarism have rocked previously esteemed institutions like Tribhuvan University. The issues have gotten so bad that even Kathmandu University, once afforded much more credibility than any other Nepali university, has had its reputation tarnished.

In such a circumstance, it isn't surprising, though highly unfortunate, that the colleges affiliated to these universities too have been facing degradation. It is particularly worrying when the country's oldest campuses start t...