Languages in Nepal

Nepali has a central role in education, administration and daily life. English is a compulsory school subject from Grade 1 through bachelor-level study and supports access to higher education, science, medicine, information technology, business, tourism and international communication. Mother tongues support family life, community communication and cultural identity. Nepal's Constitution recognizes all mother tongues as national languages, protects language use and preservation, and supports education in a mother tongue. The practical availability of such instruction differs between local governments, schools and communities. Nepal does not have one unified national language-learning system outside formal education. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Curriculum Development Centre guide school curricula. The Center for Education and Human Resource Development provides learning materials, teacher resources and non-formal or lifelong-learning content. Provinces, local governments and schools may develop local curricula and mother-tongue options. A legal right to mother-tongue education does not automatically create a course or teacher in every location. Formal learning mainly takes place in schools. The curriculum emphasizes listening, speaking, reading and writing, with English teaching focused on communicative ability and everyday use. The national education framework also supports local curricula and materials for multilingual settings, especially in early and lower grades. Public basic education is legally free and compulsory, but language-specific additional courses, materials and private support can have separate costs. The Language Commission researches mother tongues and supports language resources, including digital dictionaries. It can provide courses for endangered or low-speaker languages after a written application and a Commission decision. These courses are free when provided through that programme, and processing follows official working schedules. A request does not itself guarantee a course place. For foreign-language courses, Tribhuvan University's Bishwa Bhasa Campus in Kathmandu offers languages such as Italian, Russian, Spanish, French, German, English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Nepalese learners and foreign learners follow different course groups; foreign learners can study Nepali, Sanskrit, Newari or Tibetan through the Himalayan Language Program. Many non-English courses run for two years over four semesters, with Ordinary and Advanced levels. Nepali may include a third Post-Advanced year, and Japanese may run for three years. English courses include Basic English and Advanced or Writing English. Students generally complete internal tests and final examinations, with at least 60 percent in each examination required for progression. Fees, class places and intake dates depend on the current Bishwa Bhasa Campus notice, and the offer is concentrated in Kathmandu. External examinations serve different purposes. IELTS is available in Academic, General Training, UKVI and Life Skills formats through the British Council and IDP. British Council computer-test centres include Butwal, Chitwan, Kathmandu, Itahari and Pokhara, while IDP offers additional locations and changing dates and fees. TOEFL iBT can be taken at a test centre or through the Home Edition, but the target university, employer or authority must confirm which format it accepts. IELTS and TOEFL results support applications but do not automatically provide admission, migration approval or employment. Korean language learning through EPS-TOPIK is tied to the Employment Permit System pathway for work in South Korea. The Department of Foreign Employment's EPS Korea Section publishes the relevant notices. The process can include a Korean examination and, after passing, a Skill and Competency Test. Passing qualifies an applicant for consideration in the EPS application process, but it does not guarantee a job. Sector requirements, examination arrangements, fees and deadlines follow the current notice. Digital learning supplements classroom instruction. Sikai Chautari is a government learning portal with grade-based English and Nepali stories, vocabulary, sign-language resources and non-formal or lifelong-learning materials. EPS Nepal refers learners to the free online EPS-EDU Korean platform for E-9 preparation. Devices, internet access and local support affect practical use. Private apps and courses can help with practice, but their quality and recognition vary. Language choice therefore depends on the intended use, the required proof, the provider's location, the available budget and whether an institution accepts the resulting certificate.