A Political Economy Perspective
It is also relevant to consider the private good orientation of TVET given TVET education’s prerequisite of investing in tools and equipment, and the need to maintain a strict teacher-to-pupil ratio. But such trainings are mostly undertaken to overcome the skills mismatch problem and are not perceived to improve employee productivity per se, particularly among semi-skilled and unskilled workers. Competing within a small market space, these perceptions prohibit businesses from reaping the benefits of labour productivity gains. Ideally, such skills should be imparted in TVET institutions themselves, making it a prerequisite initially for employment and subsequently to improved standards of living.11 The logic is that on-the-job training transfers basic (or prerequisite) skills that are needed to qualify for a particular job. For example, to qualify for an office position, one needs to know how to operate a computer irrespective of their academic background. At the individual level, on-the-job training improves productivity, but from an organizational perspective, it barely meets basic employee qualifications.
The Complexity of TVET as a Development Sector in Nepal Formal and Informal TVET Trainings President’s Fund
Public Good
PM Employment Fund
753 Local Governments
Short–Term TVET Trainings
Informal TVET trainings and skill transfer programs
Education Sub-Sector (Degree Granting)
National Planning Commission Ministry of Labor, Employment & Social Security
Ministry of Education, Science & Technology
Ministry of Women, Children & Social Welfare
Other Ministries
World Bank
9-12 Vocational Schools
Pre-Diploma & Diploma Courses
CHRED, MoEST
CTEVT partner community schools
CTEVT
Asian Development Bank
European Union
External Development Partners
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Supplies
Private Good
Technical Trainings
Post-Graduation Level
Tribhuvan Universitiy constituent colleges [Health | Engineering | Agriculture | Others] Medical Council World Bank & Other Donor Agencies
Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation
Draft
TVET Act
CTEVT run constituent schools CTEVT affiliated private TVET schools
Driven & Regulated by Market Forces
OJT run by individual businesses
Undergraduate Degrees
Training for Migrant Laborers
7 Provincial Governments Engineering Council Kathmandu University constituent colleges [Health | Engineering | Agriculture | Others]
Affiliated colleges of Universities (Private) [Health | Engineering | Agriculture | Others]
Soft skills Association of Businesses
CHRED- Centre of Education and Human Resource Development MoEST- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology OJT- On the Job Trainings
4.3 Occupational Skills Linked to So Called Lower Castes Historically, caste determined one’s occupation and subsequently either one’s inclusivity or exclusivity within Nepali society. Occupational castes, such as carpenters, gardeners, blacksmith, cobblers and leather tanners, were historically considered low caste and their identity was established through their professions (Gurung, 1998). In the Western 11
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Interviews with private sector representatives 2021
