Education Minister stresses urgent reforms to boost skills and youth employability
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 28
Nepal has officially launched the accreditation process for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, a major step toward improving the quality and global competitiveness of the country's workforce. The announcement was made by Education, Science and Technology Minister Raghuji Panta during the National Seminar on "Quality TVET: The Need of Now" held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Minister Panta underscored the urgent need to align TVET with digital advancements and industry demands. "If we compare the last two decades, we can sense a paradigm shift in livelihood and work because of digital tools. Let us understand what our current technological needs are. Being aware of these allows us to work towards fulfilling them, leading to quality in education, including TVET," he said, stressing that a skilled workforce is vital for youth employment and inclusive economic growth.
The accreditation framework, developed by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), is expected to strengthen quality assurance in Nepal's TVET sector. "This Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) is built on a strong monitoring system. Quality should be defined by outcomes, not merely by documents. The industry needs to be closely connected with TVET," said Er. Mahesh Bhattarai, Member Secretary of CTEVT.
Delivering the keynote, Prof. Dr. Ursula Renold of ETH Zurich highlighted the importance of international benchmarks, student-centered learning, and industry collaboration. She shared global best practices relevant to Nepal's TVET reform journey. Representatives from UNESCO, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Ministry of Education also pledged their support to Nepal's TVET transformation.
The seminar featured sessions on TVET financing, accreditation as a tool for quality assurance, and findings from UNESCO's study on "Greening TVET." A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Usha Bhandari from Swisscontact explored the current status of TVET quality and pathways for improvement.
Closing the seminar, Swisscontact Country Director Sanjay Karki emphasized the need for collaboration and stronger private sector engagement, while MoEST Joint Secretary Shree Prasad Bhattarai stressed that accreditation was only the starting point of a longer reform process.
The event, organized by CTEVT in collaboration with Swisscontact and supported by SDC and UNESCO, brought together more than 150 policymakers, educators, employers, and international experts. Stakeholders collectively committed to making quality TVET a cornerstone of Nepal's development strategy, equipping young people with the skills needed for a rapidly changing world of work.
