The SLC results are out. Doors for higher education have opened for those who got through the Iron Gate. Many of them have been looking for options beyond the government colleges which once used to be the only avenue. Private schools and colleges have now become the major avenue notwithstanding many shortcomings. As government schools and colleges face resource crunch and quality infrastructures, private schools offer the best options to students. Of course, fees are too high for many to be able to afford it. But to those who can afford it, good education is available at home. They do not necessarily need to go abroad. The challenge still remains: to make higher education accessible and affordable to as many students as possible. For this the government needs to take necessary step to improve the quality at the government schools and develop a mechanism to offer scholarships to the needy in the private schools. This requires a political will which in turn warrants political stability. Unfortunately, Nepal has been passing through the same old phenomenon of instability. This we think need to be addressed. But that does not close the windows for taking a look at the state of higher education. This is what we have tried to do in the cover story in this issue.