The Government of Nepal has opened the door for private skill training institutions to obtain formal affiliation from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), marking a major policy shift aimed at strengthening Nepal's vocational ecosystem.
This development follows the approval of the National Vocational Training Institute Development Committee Regulation, 2025, which enables NVTI to recognize and affiliate privately operated institutions offering skill-based training. As a result, certifications issued by these institutions will now hold official recognition if endorsed by the NVTI.
NVTI currently operates its own training centers in Bhaisepati (Lalitpur), Butwal (Rupandehi), and Itahari (Sunsari), where it provides short-term (up to six months) vocational training focused on labor-intensive sectors. The new regulation expands NVTI's mandate to also certify skills acquired through private institutions and develop training curricula across various trades.
According to Danduraj Ghimire, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, NVTI will not only affiliate private institutions but also oversee skill assessments and certification of the workforce trained there. The goal is to institutionalize short-term training programs in areas such as plumbing, electrical works, road construction, footwear manufacturing, metal works, tailoring, and other practical skills.
The policy reform aligns with recent amendments to Nepal's Foreign Employment Act, 2007, as published in the Nepal Gazette on July 30. The revised provision mandates that any skill-based training program of up to six months intended for outbound migrant workers must be tested and certified by NVTI. The institute will also be responsible for defining the testing procedures and methodologies.
While the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) continues to provide affiliations focused on academic curricula, NVTI will now play a complementary role by catering to the practical and employment-driven side of vocational education.
NVTI Director Binda Acharya reported that in fiscal year 2024/25, the institute trained 5,300 individuals across sectors such as construction, hospitality, and service. She noted a growing interest among trainees, particularly women in entrepreneurship linked to tailoring, beauty services, and home-based enterprises. These skills not only require minimal startup capital but also allow women to engage in income-generating activities while managing family responsibilities.
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