Graduates line up for municipal police jobs amid high unemployment

Bachelor's degree holders apply for basic city police roles as local job market tightens in Biratnagar

Youth filling out application forms for the city police recruitment opened by Biratnagar Metropolitan City. All photos: Anil Shrestha

BIRATNAGAR: Friday afternoon, October 2. In front of the City Police Division of Biratnagar Metropolitan City, there was heavy foot traffic of young applicants. Among them was 27-year-old Sushma Kumari Magar from Katahari Rural Municipality-6, Morang, who was sorting through her citizenship certificate, character certificate, and academic credentials.

In the transparent plastic file tucked under her arm, the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) transcript issued by Tribhuvan University was clearly visible. She had completed her graduation just a year ago. Having passed SEE in 2014 and higher secondary (+2) in 2017, Sushma was applying for the position of “City Police Constable” at the metropolitan office. For this role, the municipality has set the minimum educational qualification at basic eighth-grade completion.

Biratnagar Metropolitan City Office .

For Sushma, who spent four years in college to earn her bachelor’s degree in education, becoming a municipal police officer—blowing whistles on city roads and managing pushcarts—was certainly not her first choice. However, the country’s severe unemployment situation has sidelined her degree.

“Rather than staying idle at home without a job, I applied hoping I might get employment even if it is in a neighboring municipality,” Sushma said while verifying her documents. “Let’s see if I get selected or not. The process is still quite long.”

During the conversation, she did not hesitate to reveal her academic background, though she declined to stand in front of the camera. “I have just filled out the form for now, so please don’t take photos,” she said with a slight hesitation. “Tomorrow, if my name appears on the selected list and I put on the uniform, I will speak to the media.” Hidden behind Sushma’s hesitation was the social mindset and compulsion of having to compete for a basic-level job despite holding a bachelor’s degree.

Youth filling out application forms for the city police recruitment opened by Biratnagar Metropolitan City.

Many with higher education