Pushpa Raman Wagle
Member Secretary, CTEVT
CTEVT was established in 2045 BS with the aim to produce not only basic and medium level technical human resources also to provide formal and informal vocational training. It was established according to the CTEVT Act 2045 BS. It operates both three-year diploma programs after the SEE and 18 months’ TSLC course. Similarly, CTEVT operates short-term skill training from one month to twelve months. Currently, CTEVT has 880 institutions that operate various programs related to agriculture, engineering, health, hotel management including both TSLC and diploma program. Among them, 47 are constituent; seven are in partnership with private sector.
Similarly, 397 community schools run the programs of technical education whereas 429 private institutions are run by private investors. Besides, 1100 institutions have got affiliation to run short-term skill development training. Currently, the institutions provide technical and vocational education to as many as 63500 students annually. Among them, 64000 have been enrolled in TSLC program and the rest are studying Diploma program annually. CTEVT is planning to provide short-term skill development training to 45000 students from the seven province offices and 290 local organizations have submitted their proposal to run diploma in TSLC program at local level. The CTEVT has the capacity of providing short-term training to myriads students. Increasing the capacity of providing education to a massive number of students is really a praiseworthy effort of the CTEVT.
Mr. Puspa Raman Wagle, member secretary of CTEVT believes that technical education and vocational training bring a drastic change for social and economic reforms so as to ensure prosperous and independent economy. Mr. Wagle was caught by College Readers and shared his view. Excerpts:
You had presented your Work Plan (Strategic Planning) at the time of your appointment as member secretary. What percentage of your work plan has been completed so far?
The progress and achievement of CTEVT has increased by 300%- 400% than we ever planned. Its progress and extension is in wide range during a short period of time. At the time of its establishment in 2045 BS, there were five technical and vocational schools throughout the country and it was established to manage five institutions. During 2050 to 2055 BS, the number of schools reached up to 10 and there were two training centers. Similarly, in 2073 BS, there were 19 poly technical institutions. Currently, there are forty seven such poly technical institutions. Similarly, there were 40350 enrolled in various programs of CTEVT. Currently, the number of students has reached 63500. So, my work plan has drastically crossed its boundary by more than 200% -300%.
You infer that your target plan has significantly exceeded the target by 300%-400%, but the CTEVT is appallingly criticized by the public against its scholarship scheme. How do you defend this public backlash?
I agree with this kind of nit-pick regarding the issue of scholarship scheme. Before, I held this responsibility, there was a provision of giving only 5% scholarship to students of TSLC programs. But after I held the post of member secretary, I have made the provision of giving at least 10% scholarship compulsorily either by private or governmental technical institutions. Similarly, the quotas in agriculture have increased considerably. While calculating the amount of investment in scholarship, it has crossed more than 600 million rupees annually. The criteria for scholarship have been made clear and transparent. So, such kind of nit-pick is not realistic.
It is rumored that the significance of technical and vocational education has increased in the recent times, but the CTEVT has not yet made a concrete plan to satisfy address the demand of people. What plans do you have that would promote the programs of CTEVT and fulfill the demand of people?
Nepal has not made tremendous progress and transformation in acknowledging labor of people. Unless the dignity of labor is acknowledged in the society, technical and vocational education cannot make progress as expected. Even today, we don’t give high respect to vocational and technical education due to the influence of our elite culture which has deeply rooted in our culture that has created obstruction in smooth running and strengthening of vocational and technical education. In such a case, the media should play a vital role in exposing their chicaneries so that we can see social transformation that enables people to respect people’s physical toil. For an instance, there is still a social menace looming as people’s perspectives are different while judging two groups of people: the one that goes to office in a neat and clean uniform and the second that goes to the work that needs physical toil and perspiration. This is the reason, why people are still discouraged to take up vocational and technical courses.
CTEVT was established with the aim to produce basic and middle level technical and vocational human resources. TU and other universities also offer such type of programs, such as sub-engineering, nursing and so on. What is your opinion regarding this matter?
Such type of practice has brought the hurdle in the smooth running of the CTEVT programs. So, the government should bring concrete policies and work plans for bringing all of these like-minded programs under one door system. The Ministry for Education should adopt an appropriate policy and formulate appropriate law with proper regulation and operation of program under one door system.The aim of establishing CTEVT should be brought into practice unanimously.
In your experience, what things should be improved by the CTEVT for its smooth operation?
Nepal has adopted a new political system and the country has been restructured into federal system. The federal system has given the rights of basic education and health services to local level government. Similarly, National Medical Act has been prepared in one way. In addition, the status of CTEVT has been changed into an autonomous government body. So, the government should bring clear policy for avoidance of the existing confusion that has greatly hindered smooth running of CTEVT programs autonomously.
The government has recently proclaimed that it will eliminate TSLC programs, particularly ANM and CMA. How do you analyze such a step of the government?
Junior health practitioners have made significant contributions to the provision of health services to the people of rural and remote areas of Nepal. Unless we are able to manage BN and MBBS doctors for their dedicated service in rural areas, the TSLC programs should not be eliminated. However, as a responsible person of the government, I should implement the law passed by the government. I can just give suggestions to the government about the effects of abrupt elimination of the TSLC programs.
There is culpability that CTEVT often creates state of humiliation to the private technical and vocational institutions since each of its affiliates has to renew their programs every year. How do you exonerate of this allegation?
CTEVT has increased and extended its programs throughout the country, but it has not been able to manage human resources as required for fulfilling basic health facilities to people of geographically trodden areas. Sometimes, there seems to be something lacking, but our intention is not to obstruct any ongoing programs. We have acknowledged the contributions of private institutions to the escalation of value of technical and vocational education.
What suggestions would you give SEE appeared students who are in search of technical and vocational education for their secure careers?
Technical and vocational education is life-enhancing and skill-oriented, which gives each learner life-changing skills, knowledge, independence, confidence and self-employment. The government has invested a huge amount of money annually in technical and vocational education for students as scholarship and as investment for running its institutions. So, I suggest that students grab a wealth of opportunities of scholarship and technical and vocational education. I also advise them to visit www.ctevt.org.np, which is the official website of the CTEVET or any CTEVT provincial offices to get information about its admission, criteria of selection and criteria of acquiring scholarship.
