Korea supports US$8.6 million for polytechnic in Bardibas

Kathmandu, Sept. 5: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) organised the groundbreaking ceremony of the Nirmal Lama Polytechnic Institute (NLPI) building at Bardibas in Mahottari district on Monday.

The project is being supported by the Korean government.

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN-Maoist Centre Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Country Director of KOICA Nepal Office Sunghoon Ko jointly conducted the groundbreaking ceremony at the polytechnic institute construction site. Minister for Education, Science and Technology Minister Devendra Paudel and high government officials were present on the occasion, KOICA informed in a statement.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the US$ 8.6 million project was signed between the governments of Nepal and Korea in December last year.

The main objective of the project is to produce competent construction sector workforces ready to meet the domestic and global needs by aligning with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy and the 15^th National Plan of Nepal.

The building of the institute will have floor area of 4,600 square meters. The basic component of the buildings will be a lecture building and a workshop building for practical learning with facilities of equipment and furniture.

KOICA also provides technical guidance and support for the development of the master plan of the Polytechnic Institute identifying short-term training reflecting local needs, operational plan of the institute, career service package, partnership with industry, and school management system. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman Prachanda praised the bilateral collaboration between Nepal and Korea.

Minister Paudel said that the project will produce skilled and competent workforces to meet the construction needs supporting Nepal's economic prosperity.

Similarly, Sunghoon described a project as the significant technical cooperation provided by Korea to Nepal.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 September 2022.