Kathmandu, July 17 :

British Ambassador Dr Andrew Hall said today that United Kingdom is committed to helping Nepali students enhance their skills. He said the UK would help Nepal emerge from the armed conflict by strengthening its institutes.

Addressing a Public-Private Partnerships in Vocational Education Training (VET) Sector reform symposium organised by British Council, Dr Hall said, “Poverty and lack of opportunities are the issues we need to address and getting the right skills is the critical task.”

The symposium discussed ways in which private and public sectors could work effectively together to provide necessary skills for young people.

Speaking at the same programme, Kush Kumar Joshi, president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said there was a mismatch between what educational institutes offer and what present-day business economy requires.

Dr Louisa West, a Standards and Qualifications Project Manager for Construction Skills, and Geoffrey Pine, principal and chief executive of Greenwich Community College, would share the experience of the UK in establishing relationships between government and private partners.

The symposium is being organised under the British Council’s Regional VET project ‘Skills for Employability’.