Education Ministry Issues 'Career Guidance Service Operation Directive, 2083'
The Ministry of Education and Sports has issued the Career Guidance Service Operation Directive, 2083, targeting students studying in Grade 8 or above, youth, workers, and individuals returning from foreign employment. Issued under the authority granted by Section 19(a) of the Education Act, 2028, the directive provides detailed arrangements to facilitate the transition from school to the labor market.
The directive, signed by Ministry Secretary Chudamani Paudel and Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel, will come into effect from the date of its approval by the Government of Nepal.
Key Career Guidance Services to Be Provided
Under the directive, students and young people will have their interests, talents, abilities, and strengths identified and will be provided with relevant educational, technical, and vocational information. In addition, the following services will be provided:
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Digitization of materials related to careers, skills, employment, and lifelong learning, along with measures to ensure access to them.
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Collection and analysis of information on job-seeking youth, students, and workers, including their skills profiles and data on educational and training institutions.
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Updating information on educational institutions, occupations, and careers based on the labor market information system.
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Assessment of students’ and young people’s interests and abilities through psychometric tests (tools), including career assessment and counseling.
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Evidence-based counseling to help individuals make appropriate choices between general education and technical and vocational education and training.
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Targeted counseling on employment and self-employment opportunities, career planning, and entrepreneurship guidance.
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Training and practice to develop career management skills required to enter the labor market, including CV preparation and interview skills.
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Expansion of digital technology related to employment and career development, regulation of services provided by private-sector organizations and other institutions, and development of platforms for mutual learning.
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Counseling for undergraduate and postgraduate students on employment and self-employment opportunities based on their studies, abilities, and competencies.
Career Guidance Service Steering Committee and Coordination Unit
According to the directive, a seven-member Career Guidance Service Steering Committee will be formed under the coordination of the Secretary of the Ministry of Education to guide career guidance service activities.
The committee will include the Director General of the Department of Education, the Executive Director of the Curriculum Development Center, the Member-Secretary of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), the head of the Ministry’s Technical and Vocational Education Division, and one expert member nominated by the coordinator. The head of the Ministry’s Technical Education Section will serve as the member-secretary.
The committee will guide the service delivery framework, coordinate with provincial governments, local levels, and the private sector for resource mobilization, determine the budget, and carry out monitoring and evaluation.
Similarly, a Career Guidance Coordination Unit will be established at the Department of Education under the leadership of a deputy secretary or section officer for effective implementation. The unit will be responsible for developing materials, developing psychometric assessment tools, expanding digital platforms, producing audio and video materials, conducting training-of-trainers programs, and carrying out research.
Digital System Operation
A separate digital portal will be developed on the Ministry’s website to provide easy access for students and young people. The portal will include learning materials, audio and video content, scholarship information, educational institutions, subjects, labor market information, and success stories.
The portal will be updated regularly and interconnected with provincial and local-level portals.
Roles of Different Agencies
The directive assigns specific roles to various agencies in the operation of career guidance services:
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Ministry of Education and Sports: Formulate policy arrangements, manage resources, coordinate with donor agencies and the private sector, and operate the digital platform.
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Department of Education: Develop support handbooks and reference materials, train teachers and independent counselors, enhance trainers’ capacity, and manage the budget.
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Curriculum Development Center: Incorporate career guidance content into the secondary-level curriculum, allocate time for it in the academic calendar, and prepare necessary teaching materials and teacher guides.
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Education Development and Coordination Unit: Serve as a liaison with provinces, local levels, and schools, while regularly monitoring and supervising the program.
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National Examination Board: Operate “Career Guidance Booths” and “Career Bootcamps” for students who have completed the SEE and Grade 12 examinations and encourage them to participate in online sessions.
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Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT): Coordinate with technical schools, develop curriculum frameworks/modules, build staff capacity, activate job placement units, and collaborate with various agencies to keep labor market information updated.
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Private Sector/Professional Federation of Teachers: Identify skills and competencies according to market demand, provide orientation on modern career fields, and play a coordinating role in ensuring sustainable service delivery.
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Youth Councils/Networks: Promote good practices, expand access, and support sustainable service delivery.
Monitoring and Budget Management
The Ministry of Education, Department of Education, CTEVT, and the Steering Committee will monitor the quality and effectiveness of career guidance services.
Development partners, non-governmental organizations, and private organizations working in this field will be required to coordinate and collaborate with the Ministry, while stakeholder agencies must designate a contact person (focal person). Data on the services provided must be entered into the Ministry’s digital portal.
The Ministry of Education will manage the program and budget. The directive also states that the services may be operated in collaboration with development partners.
The Ministry retains the authority to amend the directive as necessary.
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Education Ministry Issues Career Guidance Directive 2083.PDF
