Dipak Roka
(Dipak Roka is CEO at Sanjeevani College of Medical Sciences, Butwal, Rupandehi)
With the aim of delivering technical, practical, vocational education throughout Nepal, CTEVT was established in 1989 AD as an autonomous body. Since its establishment, the organization has been producing thousands of skilled and semi-skilled manpower in different technical and vocational field. Recently, there are 877 and 1081 institutions running PCL including TSLC and short term running institutions respectively. The optimum capacity of intake in these programs is 1,24,030 per annum. (Annual Report, CTEVT, 2074/075) It is only one autonomous body like a deemed university in Nepal which only aims to produce skilled manpower in technical field.
The data show that there is uneven distribution of programs. Though CTEVT started some programs in remote areas too, most of the programs are centralized in federal capital, valley and city areas. Due to the uneven distribution of programs, the target group has difficulties in grabbing the opportunities. The number of programs is enough as per the need of population however the need of people from different geographical region hasn’t been addressed due to the uneven distribution of the programs. On the one hand, many programs run having very few numbers of students in the city areas. On the other hand, the students are not getting opportunity in urban areas. The worst point is many institutions are not running class after getting affiliation too. Thus, there should be strict supervision regarding such institutions.
So far as the scholarship policy is concerned, CTEVT has entirely a biased policy towards the institutional (private) schools. The total scholarship for the students is 10% in CTEVT affiliated programs. Out of the scholarship, 75% is allocated for classified group and only the government school students are eligible to fill in the entrance form for that category. The remained 25% is open for both the institutional and government school students. Firstly, scholarship is to be based on as per the financial status of people, not on the basis of school category. Secondly, as the fundamental rights constitution, there shouldn’t be any restriction for filling in classified scholarship form. CTEVT can separate quotas for reservation category as per the constitution but shouldn’t make restrictions on the basis of category of school. Due to such biased scholarship policy in PCL/Diploma level, the students studying in institutional schools are seeking admission in the government schools in senior classes.
Another difficulty is complication for filling in forms for the classified scholarship. The students were able to fill in the forms in colleges itself till 2071 BS. After that date, they should go to the regional offices to get the forms filled in. If the forms are available in local education offices or at least all the colleges affiliated to CTEVT, the real target group will be able to grab the opportunity. Provinces offices are always in urban areas and the target people reside in the remote areas. So, due to lack of information, geographical complications, lengthy official procedure, expenditure, many interested students are not able to fill in scholarship forms. So, CTEVT has to think about either online form submission system or the availability of forms in local bodies or affiliated colleges. The next point is that CTEVT has to give equal opportunities to all the students who passed SEE regardless of the type of schools.
The weakness of CTEVT is regarding the proper utilization of the manpower produced through scholarship. It is apparent through the establishment of CTEVT that it hasn’t been able to utilize the scholarship students in proper way. The resources produced with the policy of scholarship have to be utilized at least for some years in the rural and remote area of Nepal where the people are not able to get any type of technical services. CTEVT through its own and affiliated college/schools has invested about one hundred twenty crore rupees per year for the scholarship in the diploma/PCL level only. It will be nearly double than this if we calculate TSLC and short term scholarship amount too. The technical manpower produced with such huge amount of investment hasn’t been properly used in the respective fields. CTEVT has authority to utilize such manpower by making a policy for the time being.
Though CTEVT has recently established seven offices in each province, they are not functioning properly till date. The offices are very useful for the colleges/schools but due to the federal concept of CTEVT, the colleges are obliged to go Bhaktpur for most of the important official task. The provinces level offices are just functioning as the bridge between colleges and CTEVT. The affiliation, renewal, registration, entrance and all examination, quality control etc. are directly inspected, supervised, controlled by CTEVT head office. The policy of decentralization has to be implemented strictly and promptly so that the constituent and affiliated colleges/schools get maximum benefit for the quality management.
CTEVT seems irresponsible regarding affiliation too. The accreditation department announced proposals for different programs in 2069 and thousands of applications were submitted. The department also asked the proposed colleges to deposit one lakhs per program rupees as visit fee. 1700 institutions deposited the amount in 2072 B.S that values seventeen crore rupees. CTEVT neither rejects the proposals nor provides affiliations till date. If the programs were not required for the nation, CTEVT shouldn’t ask applications. The institutions have been in confusion whether CTEVT will provide programs or not? This dilemma has to be clarified soon. Otherwise, the credibility of CTEVT will be in question.
The future of CTEVT is also uncertain. The parliament passed the National Medical Education act in 2075. According to the act, no university can give new affiliation from 2075 onwards in any PCL and low level program in medical education and the running programs are to be phased out after five years of the implementation of the act. It means CTEVT is in the process of either deconstruction or run under a branch of ministry of education. Due to this uncertain future of CTEVT itself, the affiliated colleges/schools are in dilemma in investing for upliftment of the strength of the colleges.
Despite miscellaneous challenges, CTEVT has been keeping on its mission since its establishment in 2045 BS. Now, CTEVT is undoubtedly a backbone of technical and vocational education in Nepal. We can’t imagine the prosperity of the nation without the human resources produced from CTEVT. The human resources produced through CTEVT have a great role in building the nation and for remittance too. In the developing country like Nepal, the skilled manpower is essential to accelerate different developmental activities. It is better to strengthen the capacity of CTEVT rather than discouraging as we are in the phase of development after a long political transition. So, the government should amend the national medical education act and address the need of nation in technical and vocational education. Government can manage a check and balance policy rather than slaughtering CTEVT. CTEVT can function well if it remains an autonomous body rather than a department of ministry. .
References
Annual Report, CTEVT, 2074/075
National Medical Education act 2075
