Dhruba Dhungel

As usual, the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) results have been published and academic discussions have begun to surface focusing on efficiency and effectiveness of education system in Nepal. The pass percentage dropped by eight percent this year and reasons for this were sought but convincing answers are far away things. The planners and educationists have few or no valid research findings to justify why the pass rate is 38 per cent. Is it too low or is it too high? Who has the answer? Those who fail are worthless or they also are

the nation builders in future. Is SLC result the only determining factor that answers the above question? Obviously not. When we do not find the convincing answers to the causes of the pass rate of SLC takers, then obviously we have to look for the testing system itself. Whether the testing system is valid and reliable should be answered before analysing any other factors related to it. Hence time has come to scrutinise the examination system itself so that we can reach new academic horizons.

Now educationists look to the educational entities what they have to offer to these youngsters who unfortunately could not be successful in the norm reference test, which has little meaning in academic world. People start talking about skill-oriented education, which can help them to get gainful employment but there are very few entities for skill development training. Among the few organisations who offer skill based training in public sector are Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Department of Labour and Employment Promotion (DOLEP), Department of Cottage and Small Industries (DCSI), Cottage and Small Industries Board (CSIDB).

As CTEVT is the apex body for the production of middle level technical human resource required for the country it becomes the focal point for addressing the training related issues for the youth including those who failed the SLC examination. The middle level health related para-medical workforce produced under CTEVT are in abundant supply; however the quality workforce required in other areas are still a challenge. The resources allocation to these organisations for such a huge task is insignificant and looking only to it for accommodating all the failures of SLC could be over-ambitious. However, the capacity building of such national organisations is the need of the hour. Human resource planning and development are the highly prioritised areas of every welfare nation. Laissez faire approach is wastage of time and resources in a country which has huge resource problems. Hence Nepal’s only hope to catch up with the pace of development in the world is to have and implement human resource development schemes not only for passers of the SLC examinations but also for those who have failed.