Nepal News Gazette

Kathmandu: Various experts and advocates have called for meticulous reforms in the design and implementation of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.

At a sharing of findings of four different studies undertaken by the Kathmandu University School of Education (KUSOED) on Sunday, the researchers highlighted reform needs in financing, investment, technical and non-technical skills enhancement, shared incentives and good governance in the operation of the sector.

Presenting the findings of the research ‘Household Financing in TVET in Nepal’, Prof Dr Mahesh Nath Parajuli highlighted that households with limited earning have been bearing higher financial burden for TVET education.

The research according to him revealed that households shared 49 percent of TVET education expenditure followed by government (37 percent), external donors (7 percent) and others (7 percent)

The research recommended measures to reduce structural inequalities prohibiting access to TVET; lower household bur
den to TVET; find cost partners and collaborators in the sector.

Likewise, sharing the findings of another research ‘Skills Gap: Exploring Education-to-Work Transition in Nepal’s Construction Sector’, Associate Prof Dr Prakash Chandra Bhattarai said skills gap have created multi-fold issues such as widening unemployment, creating difficulties for employees to obtain a skilled workforce and need for evidence-based policy/ practice.

The study found that graduate employees entered the job market with minimal competencies, including technical and non-technical in the construction sector. The research called for the enhanced role of educational institutions in terms of curricula, pedagogy, assessment; linkage and collaboration with industry sectors and reforms in policy to match the demand side and supply sides of the sector.

KUSOED Head of the Department, Dr Suresh Gautam in his research ‘Youth Employment and Income: insights from the 2022 Youth Survey’ underlined the need of skill-based education with quality
, relevance, and good governance and realizing and enhancing the social/ cultural capital of the trainees.

The research recommended developing an approach, drawing from socio-educational political, economic dynamics, to enhance youth employment and addressing social structure for developing role models of aspirant youth for TVET.

Delivering his presentation to share the findings of his research entitled ‘Local Governments Financing in TVET: A Study of Gandaki Province’, Dr Prakash Kumar Paudel highlighted that TVET budget has been steadily increasing with volume but largely financed with external sources.

According to the research findings, informal/non-formal TVET was found an area of priority; local governments yet to give a priority attention to take role on financing of TVET

Commenting on the research papers, education reform advocate Dr Bishnu Karki suggested that they should impart a candid message that TVET involves certain costs but there are opportunities for higher returns rate.

He advocated fo
r the need of adopting the Swiss dual model (both general and technical and vocational education) in Nepal with careful design on incentives for attracting students.

It demands engagement of multiple stakeholders, including technical training providers, employers and trainees to promote skill-based employment adopting apprenticeship approach.

Likewise, Principal Social Sector Specialist of Asian Development Bank, Rudi Van Dael lauded emerging research on TVET in Nepal highlighting that the broader society needs to think towards lowering cost burden in its education in Nepal.

The research was undertaken by KUSOED with support from the Linking Education and Labour Markets (LELAM) project financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet emphasized further streamlining and weather forecast and early warning system for effective risk management of monsoon-induced disasters.

Minister Basnet called for enhancing disaster preparedness at a programme organized by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology here today. The Department has predicted more than average rainfall in monsoon this year.

The minimum precipitation in most parts of the country is likely to be more than average by 35-65 per cent in monsoon that generally starts from June 10 and lasts through September 23.

Minister Basnet, speaking at the programme, expressed his concern over the increasing cases of monsoon-induced disasters due to climate change and pledged to make the early warning system more reliable and credible to mitigate risk of the disasters.

In view of the rise in the disasters such as floods and landslides, the Minister highlighted the need for the stakeholders to take precaution
ary measures and advance disaster preparedness for effective disaster response efforts.

On the occasion, he instructed the Department to take feedback from target-community and other stakeholders and devise strategies, polices and plans accordingly to further organize early warning system.

Basnet affirmed his commitment not to leave any stone unturned to minimize the potential risk of monsoon-induced disasters. Seeing the human resources crunch and financial resources constraints for development of early warning system, he highlighted the need for supplying adequate human resources and managing financial resources.

According to him, climate change was also inducing disasters such as heavier rainfall, less rainfall and drought adversely affecting the agricultural production.

Minister Basnet explained, “If the weather prediction is reliable, the farmers can make well-informed choices and decision regarding which paddy sapling to be planted in which time, when to harvest and when to consider farming.”

He al
so saw the need for raising public awareness about disaster risk reduction to minimize the damages incurred by monsoon-induced disasters.

The north-west part of the Sudurpaschim Province, the south-east part of Bagmati, the central part of Madhesh and the central and mid-west parts of Koshi Province are likely to witness more than (35.4 per cent to 65.5 per cent) than average this time.

Similarly, the western part of the Karnali, central part of Gandaki and the north-east part of Koshi are likely to witness rain more by 35-45 per cent than average.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: Dissatisfied with the Election Commission’s decision to recognize the Janata Samajwadi Party led by Ashok Kumar Rai, the President of Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal Upendra Yadav on Monday lodged a writ petition at the Supreme Court (SC).

In his petition, Yadav has named EC and others as opponents and has demanded that the EC’s decision to give recognition to the newly-formed party be scrapped. Yadav has also sought a mandamus order from the SC and end the splinters’ status as federal parliament members.

The SC has fixed the preliminary hearing of the case for May 15.

It may be noted that Rai had lodged an application at the EC for the new political party on May 5 after splitting from the JSP, Nepal. Based on the application, the EC had given a certificate to the JSP on May 6.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun held discussion with heads and representatives of international development partners on the budget formulation for coming fiscal year 2024/25.

During the meeting held at Finance Ministry on Monday, heads and representatives of multilateral development partners including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Finance Cooperation as well as ambassadors of international development agencies-Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom and European Union and bilateral development partners were present, according to Finance Minister Pun’s Secretariat.

On the occasion, the Finance Minister shared about priorities and principles of coming fiscal year budget and added that the government was committed to creating environment conducive to foreign direct investment and investment-friendly environment for the private sector.

Emphasis has to be laid on foreign investment and assistance as internal source mobil
ization is not enough to achieve development goals determined by the government, underscored the Finance Minister.

Finance Minister Pun explained that the country has forwarded activities determining necessary strategy to graduate Nepal to a developing country from least developed country by 2026 and to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030.

“We need huge investment to achieve these ambitious development goals for which we want to join hands with development partners,” he said.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: The government’s policy and programme document for the upcoming year is being tabled at a joint meeting of the federal parliament on Tuesday.

President Ramchandra Paudel will address the joint meeting of the federal parliament at 3:00 pm on Tuesday to announce the government’s policy and programme for the fiscal year 2081/082 BS.

Assistant Spokesperson of Federal Parliament Secretariat Dasharath Dhamala shared that preparations for the joint meeting have been completed.

The Federal Parliament Secretariat has extended invitations to Vice President Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha and other dignitaries to attend the joint meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) and National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Nepali Congress lawmaker Ramnath Adhikari said that the government’s policy and programme should address the issues of people’s livelihood, massive out-bound migration of youth and underdevelopment in the rural parts of the country.

Likewise, Rana
Kumari Balampaki of CPN (UML) suggested that the government should focus the programmes for creating employment in the country.

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Tshiring Damdul Lama viewed that the government’s policy and programme should prioritize the concerns of peasants and labourers, and make the country self-reliant on agriculture.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: A team of investors from China called on Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari today.

In the meeting held at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies in Singha Durbar, Minister Bhandari urged the Chinese investors to consider setting up business or running industries in Nepal assuring that the country had investment-friendly climate.

“You should consider investing in Nepal. The government is ready to create an enabling environment for the investment. We have removed some legal complications. If there are any problems again, the government will create comfortable environment,” he said.

Bhandari articulated that the incumbent government was looking forward to attracting Chinese capital and technology to Nepal. “You have come to Nepal with an intent of investing in business here. I would like to heartily welcome you on the behalf of the government. Pitch the proposals. Let’s deliberate on them. Rest assured, you will get good returns from your investment.”

Stating th
at environment for foreign investment was being created in Nepal, the Minister expressed his confidence that Nepal and China relations would assume further greater height.

He mentioned that the government is enthused with the prospects of investment from the Chinese investors and opined that it would make them even more excited once the investment is considered.

During the meeting, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, mentioned that Nepal and China share centuries-old trade relations and expressed happiness over the intent of the visiting Chinese delegates.

According to him, the government had been considering reforms at policy level for attracting foreign investment.

Highlighting tremendous potential Nepal had in investment in mines, energy and tourism among other sectors, Secretary Ghimire assured guarantee of return of investment in these sectors.

The visiting Chinese delegation included entrepreneurs of agriculture, energy, tourism, mines and constructio
n sectors.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dan Bahadur Karki has been designated as the Nepal Police spokesperson.

Based at the Secretariat of the Inspector General of Police, the Nepal Police Headquarters appointed SSP Karki to the post of Nepal Police Central Spokesperson.

The new spokesperson of Nepal Police can be contacted at 9851-292111 and through email at spokesperson@nepalpolice.gov.np.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal has withdrawn its support to the government.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker Devraj Ghimire today, JSP Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav said that the party withdrew its support to the current government-led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

Yadav has said that the party has quit the present government and will continue to play constructive role as the opposition in the parliament.

Source: National News Agency RSS