KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 12
Janmajaya Timilsina, Minister of Social Development for Lumbini Province, inaugurated the Career Guidance Service Center and its digital platform at the Education Training Centre in Mayadevi, Bhairahawa. This marks the first center of its kind outside Bagmati Province.
The centre aims to assist youth and students in grades 8–10 in making informed choices of occupation, adopting an appropriate career path, and connecting them with the job market through group sessions, individual counselling, and online resources. Trained facilitators and a qualified counsellor will deliver these services. Secondary school teachers will also receive training to offer career guidance in their schools, especially in grade 8,9 and 10, according to the Ministry of Social Development of the Lumbini Province.
A key feature of the centre is the digital aptitude test available on the provincial Ministry's website, which matches youths' interests and aptitude with labour market demands. Future plans include expanding services to municipalities through Employment Service Centres and establishing sub-centres in collaboration with local governments, it added.
During the inauguration, Minister Timilsina stated, "Along with providing career guidance services to students and youth, the cooperation between the ENSSURE project and provincial government Ministry of Social Development has been significantly contributing to enhancing the employability of Nepalese youth through apprenticeship and other skill training programs."
The event was chaired by Bhupendra Thapa, Secretary for Social Development, who, during his closing remarks, emphasized the centre's role in empowering youth and equipping educators to inspire future leaders. Other speakers, including Diwakar Bhandari, Anil Poudel, and representatives from local schools and municipalities, shared insights and experiences highlighting the program's impact.
The Career Guidance Service Center was established with the support of the Enhanced Skills for Sustainable and Rewarding Employment (ENSSURE) Project, a bilateral initiative between the Governments of Nepal and Switzerland, implemented with technical support from Helvetas Nepal.
