KATHMANDU, Dec 30: The Foreign Employment Board has fallen short of its target to provide free vocational training to 15,000 youths this fiscal year. Due to various reasons, less than 10,000 are likely to receive skill training in the current fiscal year.

Trainees often complain of the tough eligibility criteria and lengthy procedure to register for the training.

The board has allocated a budget of Rs 250 million for providing a number of free vocational training to young people from across the country. According to Din Bandhu Subedi, spokesperson of the board, trainees are asked to pay Rs 2,190 before the training, which will be returned if they pass the test.

"This provision is imposed to control misuse of the opportunity," Subedi said. "By this provision, we want to create a sense of seriousness among the trainees so that they feel they are learning it for their own sake. Previously, there were trainees who just came to kill time. They could not even pass the basic test."

"There would be around 9,000 to 10,000 young people who will take the free vocational training this year," he added.

The trainees have to submit their forms and pay the fee of Rs 2,190 before the training. After the month-long training, they need to pass basic test given by CTEVT. The trainees are provided with certificates if they pass the test. Once they receive the certificate, their money will be refunded but if they don't pass the test, the money will remain with the board.

One of the criteria for the trainees is age: they need to be at least 18 years old. For electronics, they need to have passed grade ten. For plumbing and welding, they need to have passed grade eight. According to officials of the board, preference is given to female, dalit, janajati, foreign employment aspirants and returnees, and children of migrant workers.

According Subedi, training programs have already started. “We have started providing free vocational trainings under CTEVT, at various colleges that are affiliated with it. We have made agreement to provide training to 3,340 individuals so far,” said Subedi.

The duration of each training program is one month. The board provides 19 different types of training, including electronics, carpentry, garment machine operation, scaffolding, house painting, cookery, security, housekeeping, plumbing, and welding.

"Among the 19 different types, training for scaffolder, electrician, plumber, carpenter, cook, waiter and housekeeper are in high demand. Most students are interested in learning these seven types of skills as jobs are easily available abroad in these areas,” said Basu Dev Bhattarai, section officer of the board.

According to the board, 140 trainees have completed their tests till now. The board has also made arrangements to provide training in provinces 1, 2, 3, and 5.

The board has targeted to provide free vocational training to the youth as skilled workers make better money abroad than unskilled and semi-skilled workers.

 
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