The government has been providing technical education in several disciplines. The need for it arose along with the exodus of Nepali job seekers overseas. Earlier, Nepali workers in the Gulf and other countries suffered setbacks because there was greater demand for skilled manpower abroad. Trained manpower from India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines got better wages and better work facilities than Nepali workers. This forced Nepalis to take up mainly menial jobs. But that is no more the case. Once the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training since its establishment in 1989 started providing training to a lot of aspirants, who in turn helped train and equip those wishing to go abroad, the situation has been improving.

The government is planning to train over 300,000 people in various vocational disciplines within six years from now. As per an agreement reached recently between the government and the Asian Development Bank, the new endeavour would prop up the existing skilled manpower. It will particularly cater to women, Dalits and others hailing from rural areas. Under the new scheme, the CTEVT quota for Dalits which now stands at five per cent would be raised to 10 per cent. Technical training, both for those looking for jobs at home and overseas and particularly for those with a poor educational background, is important as it goes a long way in defining the quality of work such individuals perform, besides increasing their chances of finding a job. Because skill is a basic standard employed for either selecting or rejecting an application in the job market, the government should put special emphasis on providing such traning. As envisaged, the Council should also conduct a study of the market trends and accordingly move with the demands. Steering the programme to suit those needs is a prime necessity.

Because the government has been banking on remittances, it will lie in the government’s interest to train and equip people wishing to go abroad for work. Unemployment at home is at its highest and there is a bleak possibility for the domestic job market to transform anytime soon. But with it should come an institutionalised state support for the migrant workers. If the past is any guide, the government’s participation by way of helping the workers has been below the required threshold. But equally important is it for the manpower agencies and agents to ensure that workers are safe, their salaries paid in time and have an access to health care and even insurance facilities. Along with the new training scheme should evolve a reliable portal for people’s employment abroad, unlike the umpteen private agencies who are often accused of swindling and deception.