As many as 70 Nepali students had reached the tiny Caribbean island nation after they were offered enrolment at Lambirds Academy a few months ago. Some had paid up to Rs 2 million to get in the college that was shut down by the St Lucian authorities soon after they reached there. Most of the students had applied for admission through different education consultancies in Kathmandu, Biratnagar and Chitwan.  

While 21 students have already returned home, 57 others are still in St Lucia, awaiting court’s decision. As the court is due to announce its  verdict, it has come to light that scores of other Nepali students had also spent millions of rupee to join Lambirds. They learnt about the scam as they were planning to leave for St Lucia.

Around 100 students were in the process of joining Lambirds when the St Lucian authorities shut the college down and arrested its representatives on human trafficking and money laundering charges, said an agent representing an education consultancy in Kathmandu.

Sohen Shrestha of Significant Education Consultancy said 20 students had applied for admission at Lambirds from the institute and spent Rs 60,000 each.

“The college had sent offer letters to several students after the first batch of students got visa to study there,” Shrestha said. “We don’t know what to do now.”

Pawal Kumar Shah of Excellent Consultancy said that there is a high chance of the court announcing its verdict in favour of the students. Seven students had reached St Lucia through Shah’s consultancy.

 “We have requested the Nepal government to take necessary steps to help the beleagured students get justice.”