Kathmandu, April 12 -- Nepalis spent Rs93.89 billion in foreign currency on overseas education in the first eight months of the current fiscal year (mid-July to mid-March), up around 8 percent from the same period last year.

Nepal Rastra Bank data show Rs85.86 billion was spent under the same heading during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Experts said the rise reflects a growing number of students leaving the country for higher education, pushing up the outflow of foreign currency.

The outflow tied to foreign study has been rising steadily in recent years, according to the central bank. Analysts attribute the trend to prospects of work and higher earnings abroad, which continue to draw students overseas. They said ...