CTEVT Starts Admission Without Entrance Exams for PCL Programs
The Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) has started admitting students to PCL programs such as Nursing, General Medicine (HA), and Pharmacy without conducting entrance examinations.
This decision was made after a decline in student enrollment compared to the allocated seat capacity.
Admission Criteria Modified for Academic Year 2082/83
Previously, student selection was based on entrance exam scores.
According to Member Secretary Mahesh Bhattarai, from this year onward, admissions will be done based on the new Admission Guidelines 2082.
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Students from community schools will receive an additional 1.0 score
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Students from private schools will receive an additional 0.85 score
Merit lists will be prepared accordingly, and applications must be submitted online.
Same Admission Standards as Last Year, Except for Exams
“Except for not conducting the entrance exam, the same criteria and process from last year will apply for enrollment in constituent, partnership, and private institutions,” Bhattarai said.
Although a writ petition was filed against this new decision, the Supreme Court allowed admissions to proceed based on SEE marks without an entrance exam.
Policy Alignment with National Education Goals
The decision aligns with the government's policy for 2082/83, which encourages university and technical/vocational education based on school grading.
CTEVT has announced admissions in PCL Nursing, HA, Pharmacy, Engineering, Agriculture, and Hospitality programs.
Over 55,000 seats are available across all programs, but historically, only around 40,000 students have appeared for entrance exams.
Seat Occupancy and Application Ease
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According to previous data, only 48% of total CTEVT seats are filled annually.
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Online application without entrance exams is expected to make the process easier for students.
Students with at least GPA 2.0 in SEE or Second Division in SLC can apply.
This includes both scholarship and full-fee applicants.
Mixed Reactions from Student Unions
Some student organizations have opposed the decision to remove the entrance exam.
CTEVT has also received complaints of students and parents being misled during admission processes in previous years when entrance exams were held.
Course Preferences and Seat Gaps
Nursing, HA, Pharmacy, and Civil Engineering are the most sought-after programs.
However, due to limited seats, many students are unable to secure admission in their preferred field.
Other programs like Medical Lab, Radiography, non-Civil Engineering, Agriculture, and Hospitality face under-enrollment and unfilled quotas.
Reduced Seats in PCL Nursing
PCL Nursing receives the highest student demand.
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Only 2,520 seats are available in 63 nursing colleges, compared to around 5,000 seats available in past years.
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Many affiliated colleges closed after the Medical Education Act 2075 required institutions to have a 100-bed hospital to run nursing programs.
Institutional Growth vs. Enrollment Rates
In the last decade, the number of technical institutions has tripled, growing from around 500 in 2070 to over 1,500 today.
Still, student interest has not kept pace.
In academic year 2080/81:
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Only 57% of certificate-level
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Only 34% of below-certificate-level seats were filled
Due to low enrollment, CTEVT allowed institutions to conduct admissions independently from 2080, replacing the earlier centralized entrance exam model.
Breakdown of CTEVT Teaching Institutions
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65 Constituent Institutions
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52 Partnership Institutions
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429 Private Institutions
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636 Community Institutions
In addition, the Center for Education and Human Resource Development has initiated technical education from Grade 9 in 500 schools, admitting around 15,000 students annually.
Even in schools with 40-seat capacity, only 30 students are typically enrolled.
Concerns Over Politically Influenced Institution Growth
CTEVT officials claim that unchecked establishment of institutions based on political influence has led to a student shortage.
Even in higher education, student interest in technical programs has not increased significantly.
According to the University Grants Commission, only 20% of students opt for technical education at the university level.
CTEVT Diploma Level PCL Level CTEVT Notices