Hotel Association and EnSSuRE jointly to generate skilled manpower for hotel sector

POKHARA, Nov 28:On Wednesday, a program was organized in Pokhara with the goal of producing skilled manpower for the hotel sector. The Hotel Association Pokhara Nepal and the Enhanced Skills for Sustainable and Rewarding Employment (EnSSuRE) Project jointly arranged the program.

The program explored how to solve problems that arise during the operation of industrial trainee training (apprenticeship) under EnSSuRE, in accordance with the philosophy of learning while working.

On the occasion, hotel owner, managers and employees of the Human Resources Department  under the association participated.

With financial backing from the Swiss government and technical help from Helvetas Nepal, the Ministry of Social Development, Youth and Sports of the Gandaki Provincial Government has been running a 24-month apprenticeship program at the pre-diploma level through the EnSSuRE project.

The duration of 24 months has been determined by the curriculum approved by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) for the pre-diploma level.

During this period of time, students spend three and a half months in school and 19 and a half months in an industrial setting. There is an provision  to return to school for one month.

Lok Raj Joshi, EnSSuRE's Private Sector Engagement Expert, stated that the program  includes eight sectors: information technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, automobile, hotel management, building construction, tea technology, and child care.

He added that EnSSuRE wants the hotel sector's human resources to improve their capabilities, and that trainees who come to obtain practical experience are warmly welcomed in the hotel industry.

The EnSSuRE project, which has been in operation since BS 2078, aims to provide social and economic advantages to Nepal's youth, women, and men through a technical and vocational education and training system.

The goal is to meet the job and labor market needs, as well as to fill skilled positions in industry and tourism. The apprenticeship program is taught in technical institutions, as well as industry and business.

The program, which will operate both theoretically and practically, based on the principle of learning and earning, has also stressed capacity building.

The trainees will earn 25% of the government's minimum income, wardrobe expenses, a daily transportation allowance of Rs 100, and a pre-diploma level certificate.

Laxman Subedi, President of the Hotel Association Pokhara Nepal, expressed his opinion that the program will help supply the skilled labor required in the hotel industry. He stated that the tourist industry has experienced challenges when skilled workers leave for foreign employment.

Youb Raj Shrestha, Treasurer of the Hotel Association Nepal, stated that the tourism industry faces a significant scarcity of competent labor, and that the apprenticeship program will help to address this issue.

Bharatraj Parajuli, a board member of the Hotel Association Nepal, thanked everyone and appreciated the apprenticeship program.

Under CTEVT, Hark Lal Shrestha, Principal of Pokhara Technical School, and Khadga Bahadur Subba, Principal of Dhaulagiri Technical School, both delivered speeches.