Bhaktapur, September 25

Higher Secondary Education Board today handed over certificates of approval to 62 higher secondary schools for running technical classes in Grade XI.

The certificates were handed over to the officials from 62 schools at a function organised by the HSEB in Bhaktapur. Nepal government had earlier piloted technical and vocational education in 99 higher secondary schools, but the HSEB had given approval to only 62 higher secondary schools for running technical classes in Grade XI.

Meanwhile, Technical and Vocational Education Schools Network has been demanding that the HSEB allow all 99 schools to run technical classes in Grade XI.

Earlier, only 87 schools had submitted application for affiliation with HSEB and permission to run techical classes. But after pressure from TEVSN, the HSEB has recently asked all other technical secondary schools to apply for affiliation and subject approval.

Ram Hada, president, TVESN, said HSEB should allow all 99 schools to run technical classes in Grade XI and demanded increase in the number of technical subjects in Grade IX and XII.

Chaitanya Sharma, vice-chairperson, HSEB, said that they were ready to grant affiliation to the schools that are currently running technical classes for Grade IX and X. “We have no problem granting affiliation to those schools but then we cannot assure quality.”

He said addition of technical subjects in Grade IX to XII was a very good proposal and asked Hada conduct a feasibility study on it. He also assured TVESN of completing the affiliation process of remaining schools within a week.

Ram Raja Khakurel, deputy director, Department of Education, today assured technical schools of grants equal to the salary of two teachers to run technical and vocational classes.