Hari Basnet
Iwamura College of Health Science, affiliated to CTEVT, is one of the leading health educational institutions in Nepal. It is a sister organization of Dr. Iwamura Memorial Hospital and Research Center. Currently, it is running PCL Nursing, General Medicine, Medical Lab Technician, Radiography and Diploma in Pharmacy in a congenial academic atmosphere that enables students to grow professionally.
Hari Basnet is the Managing Director at Iwamura College of Health Science. He shared his view on positive impacts of health education on the lives of people in Nepal. Excerpts:
You have been involved in technical education sector for the past 20 years. What problems have you seen in health education that is run under CTEVT?
In my experience, there is no proper coordination between the objectives of the formation of CTEVT and the present policy of the government. Till date, the government has not allocated required quotas for diploma in pharmacy and some other faculties. Diploma in pharmacy program is being run in more than 30 colleges but the products are dilly-dallying in search of job opportunities in the government sector. They are involved in job at private hospitals. Similarly, there is no quota of radiologists and pharmacists even at district hospitals.
In your opinion, what should the government do for resolving these problems?
The policy of government is concerned with the preparation of skilled human resources by CTEVT for foreign employment. Most of our products go abroad in search of job opportunities. To many extents, colleges are coordinating with consultants to deploy their products in the global market. It is a serious case for the future of Nepalese and their nation. So, the government should allocate required quotas in order to employ our products in its organizations.
The government has spread the message that it will provide technical education to 75% of students across the country and only 30% of them are likely to pursue general education. In your opinion, what should the government, CTEVT and its affiliates do for its proper implementation?
The prime minister of Nepal has expressed his commitment to provide technical education to 70% of students of the country. However, after six months of such proclamation, the government has brought the Act that will eliminate TSLC health program. It is misfortune for Nepalese people since TSLC health products have been providing service to the people of rural areas of Nepal and have been contributing immensely to minimization of both infant mortality and maternal mortality rates. If TSLC health program is eliminated without its alternative, the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate will be increased in Nepal. MBBS doctors or highly skilled human resources are not ready to serve at district hospitals. Amid such conditions, stopping junior level technical human resources from getting such skill is not a positive sign in the health sector in Nepal. The policy of the government is discriminatory and suppressive on private technical educational institutions. So, the government should adopt the encouraging policy for private sectors that have made incredible contributions to the production of skilled human resources required for the country.
In your opinion, why one should pursue technical education after the SEE?
Still, there is a trend of pursuing technical education only by students from remote areas and students with low SEE grades, which is appallingly wrong. However, there is a charm for nursing education among daughters of elite groups with the purpose of futuristic settlement in a foreign swathe. But, we should understand that technical education is a life-enhancing skill that enables each learner to seize a wealth of opportunities in health sector inside the country and beyond. For an instance, there is a high demand of HA, lab technician, AJTA and VJTA across the globe.
Could you share with us the success story of Ewamura College of Health Sciences?
It has been providing quality education and has earned trust and recognition for quality education. The management team is efficient and visionary. Similarly, the faculty members are qualified, highly experienced and dedicated. It has modern buildings with spacious classrooms and well-equipped laboratories. We have our own hospital in the same premises. Another trait of our college is that we provide facilities to students instead of spending a huge amount of money on adverts. Students have to compulsorily pass the internal exams in order to be eligible for the board examinations. This strict policy ensures a hundred percent pass results. So, we focus on both empirical and theoretical education.
What suggestions would you like to give SEE graduates?
First of all, I would like to congratulate all SEE graduates on their success. Similarly, I suggest they should move ahead with confidence and strong will power. Technical education is promising and life-enhancing skill that surely gives them myriads opportunities to seize. Therefore, I advise them to join a college for technical education which will eventually ensure a successful life ahead.
