Chasing Grades, Losing Curiosity: How GPA Culture Is Crippling Undergraduate Research in Nepal

In Nepal’s universities, curiosity is quietly dying. Every semester, thousands of students walk into classrooms with dreams—of solving problems, discovering new ideas, and contributing to society. But as the academic pressure mounts, those dreams are overshadowed by one dominant force: GPA.

The obsession with grades has turned learning into a numbers game. Undergraduate research—meant to inspire inquiry and build critical thinkers—has become a formality. What should be a space for creativity is now reduced to a compulsory assignment completed for credit, not curiosity.

The GPA Trap

From the first semester, students are conditioned to believe their GPA defines their worth. Scholarships, jobs, and social respect all revolve around grades. Universities reinforce this culture, prioritizing high pass rates over genuine learning. Recycled assignments encourage copying instead of questioning, and research—requiring time, imagination, and risk—feels like an unnecessary burden.

This race for high scores produces graduates who excel in exams but struggle with innovation and analytical thinking. Higher education, instead of nurturing minds, has become a factory of memorization.

Why Undergraduate Research Matters

Research teaches students how to think, not just what to remember. It bridges the gap between classroom theories and real-world issues—from unemployment to social inequality. But most Nepali undergraduates never truly experience research. With little guidance, inadequate infrastructure, and minimal institutional support, research is often rushed, copied, or treated as a box to tick before graduation.

Teachers who want to guide students are overwhelmed with teaching loads. Many institutions lack access to updated journals and research databases. In such an environment, curiosity simply cannot survive.

The National Consequences

Neglecting undergraduate research harms not only students but the entire country. Without a strong research foundation, Nepal risks falling behind in innovation, governance, and evidence-based policymaking. Graduates end up with degrees that reflect memorization—not independent thinking.

Nepali universities also suffer globally. Weak research output and limited student experience hinder international collaborations. Students applying abroad with high GPAs but no research exposure struggle to compete in a global academic environment.

A Shift From Grades to Growth

Fixing the problem requires a cultural shift:

• Universities must reward creativity and research effort, not just exam scores. Undergraduate conferences, small research grants, and mentorship programs can spark change.
• Faculty need support and reduced overload so they can inspire inquiry rather than rush through syllabi.
• Students must see success beyond GPA. Curiosity and critical thinking will take them further than perfect grades.
• Policymakers should fund undergraduate research, create research councils, and connect academic findings to national issues to show students their work matters.

Choosing Curiosity Over Numbers

Nepal’s classrooms are filled with high achievers who may never have been encouraged to ask “why.” Education must be more than exam survival. A nation that prioritises curiosity will produce thinkers, innovators, and leaders—not just test-takers.

If Nepal continues worshiping GPA above all else, it risks losing a generation of potential innovators. True progress comes not from chasing marks but from embracing inquiry, imagination, and discovery.

Nepal must decide: keep running the GPA race or nurture minds capable of shaping the future.

Only curiosity can transform education—and only bold thinkers can transform Nepal.