Thematic sessions on various interesting topics are also being held at the ongoing Virat Expo organized by the Morang Industry and Trade Association.
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On the one hand, young people have had to go abroad with certificates in hand, while on the other hand, industries have been complaining about not having the necessary manpower.
This contradiction was at the center of the panel discussion on ‘From Skill Certification to Employment’ at the Virat Expo on Thursday.
The expo organized by the Morang Industry and Trade Association is also holding thematic sessions on various interesting topics. In this session, stakeholders shared their experiences and challenges on the question of how to bridge the gap between production and the labor market.
Representatives of industrialists, educational institutions and government bodies participating in the discussion had a common conclusion, ‘Certificates alone are not enough, practical skills, work culture and technology-friendly efficiency are the main needs of today’s labor market.’
Durga Prasad Ojha, Co-Director of CTEVT Itahari, said that the model of completing studies by working in the industry is becoming effective, emphasizing ‘real work’ based learning rather than limited classroom studies. He said that programs ranging from HA, staff nurse, sub-overseer to hotel management are supplying mid-level technical manpower.
However, the industry sector is still not satisfied. Dr., Executive Member of the Morang Industry and Trade Association, Bandana Jain mentioned that the shortage of skilled manpower in the market is becoming serious. ‘Even though the industry provides training and pays salaries, there is an increasing trend of quitting after learning the skills,’ she complained. ‘Due to this trend, industries are being forced to bring manpower from India.’
The experience of the energy sector is also similar. According to Naveen Kumar Shrestha, Assistant Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Koshi Province, more than 60 percent of the technical manpower is required for electricity generation, transmission and distribution. However, the authority, which has gone into automation and digital systems, has come to a situation where the old skills are not enough. ‘The future education system must be updated with technology,’ she emphasized.
The provincial government, however, says that it is trying to link skills with employment. Laxmi Neupane, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development of Koshi Province, informed that three skill projects are being operated in a mixed model of learning and work with salary. She said that the goal is to send youth going for foreign employment with proven skills.
Towards the end of the discussion, the experience of Lalita Shrestha of Sagarmatha Graments brought the debate to a practical level. Starting as a helper and becoming a supervisor after a skill test, she shared her experience of life-changing work based on proven skills rather than certificates.
Speaking as the keynote speaker of the session, Biratnagar Metropolitan City Mayor Nagesh Koirala made it clear that skill training conducted separately from the demands of the industry can neither create jobs nor keep the youth in the country. ‘The industry is looking for workers, the youth are forced to go abroad, this is a deep imbalance between skills and the labor market,’ he said.
