KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Education and Sports is set to launch the Career Guidance Service aimed at students, young people, workers, and those returning from jobs abroad.
The Ministry announced that it has issued the ‘Career Guidance Service Operation Guidelines, 2083 BS’ under the authority granted by Section 19 (a) of the Education Act, 2028.
This guideline, endorsed by the Ministry’s Secretary Chudamani Poudel, identifies students in grade 8 and above, youth, workers, and returnees from foreign employment as the primary audience. It outlines a plan to help these individuals discover their interests, skills, and strengths, guiding them toward suitable career paths.
According to the guidelines, the service will offer guidance and counseling to help students and youth select the right subjects, professions, and careers based on their abilities and interests. This will involve a ‘career accounting’ system that utilizes various methods and tools, including psychometric testing.
The guidelines emphasize providing evidence-based counseling to help individuals choose between general education and technical or vocational training, along with career planning and advice on employment and entrepreneurship.
The guidelines has also made arrangements to facilitate, manage, and regulate career guidance and counseling activities provided by the private sector and various organizations, as well as to develop the necessary platform for exchanging experiences between service providers and service users.
The guideline mentions that even students studying at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level will be provided with guidance and advice on job and self-employment opportunities, and possibilities based on the subjects they are studying, their areas of interest, personal abilities, and skills.
A Career Guidance Coordination Unit will be set up in the Department of Education for efficiently running the service. This unit will help identify suitable career fields and paths for the target groups based on their personality, abilities, and interests.
The Unit will gather, analyze, and maintain records of youth, students, and workers seeking employment, along with their skill profiles and data from educational and training institutions. It includes provisions for updating information related to educational institutions, professions, and occupations in line with the labour market information system.
It will also offer personalized advice on job and self-employment opportunities by assessing the skills and capabilities of those who have worked abroad and unemployed youth.
Orientation, training, and practice programmes will be conducted for developing career management skills, preparing personal information, and improving interview-related skills needed to enter the labor market.
The guideline mentions that programmes like industrial observation, entrepreneurship development, business plan preparation, internships, and ‘job shadowing’ will also be conducted to make the transition from school to the labor market easier.
Arrangements have also been made to provide information and materials related to career, skills, employment, and lifelong learning through digital means and to expand access for the target audience.
There is a provision for a board of directors, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports, to run the career guidance service.
The committee will include officials from the Department of Education, the Curriculum Development Center, Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, the relevant ministry officials, and one expert.
