Teaching-learning situation of journalism education among the community campuses in Kathmandu

Abstract

Despite journalism and mass communication courses being offered at Nepali community campuses for 20 years, significant gaps remain in infrastructure, human resources, and practical learning opportunities. This qualitative study examines the challenges faced by community campuses in Kathmandu valley, aiming to identify issues in teaching practices, understand instructors’ difficulties, explore effective pedagogical approaches, and propose viable solutions. The study divides its findings into five thematic areas: employability, pedagogy, infrastructure, political influence, and expert recommendations. These categories are based on field interviews with educators, experts, and stakeholders. The findings show that while some campuses, like Madan Bhandari Memorial College, Janamaitri Campus, and GraminAdarsha Multiple Campus (GAMC), offer cutting-edge facilities, industry partnerships, and creative practices, the majority suffer from inadequate infrastructure, antiquated lecture-based methods, little experiential learning, and poor market alignment. Graduates' lack of professional, digital, and multimedia skills continues to create employability gaps. Further undermining effectiveness are low faculty motivation, administrative instability, and political meddling. Experts have given opinion on depoliticized governance, pedagogical innovation, faculty development, and curriculum reform. The GAMC case study demonstrates that investments in infrastructure, qualified faculty, and industry collaboration significantly improve educational outcomes. It concludes that sustainable reform depends on curriculum modernization, enhanced institutional accountability, and the integration of market-oriented training.