Factors influencing the development of a public policy in technical and vocational education and training in Nepal

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Melbourne, 1995Many developing countries are experiencing persistent problems with their technical education and vocational training (TVET) systems. Nepal is no exception, and is facing major problems with a largely uncoordinated and fragmented TVET system. Nepal has neither a public policy on TVET nor an explicit framework for coordination. In order to understand the policy-making process, or lack thereof, the study examines a selected number of major policy issues and attempts to determine the extent of influence or effects of various factors. These issues are treated within the social, political and economic context of Nepal and other developing countries in the region. The literature review includes policy theory to provide a conceptual basis for the discussion, a review of some general policy issues and a discussion of specific policy issues. The conceptual framework is based on a series of research questions arising out of the literature review. The methodology employed is essentially that of a policy analysis. A simple comparative framework was developed to facilitate the analysis. A number of major conclusions can be drawn from the study. The lack of a national policy-making capacity, one of the greatest constraints on policy formulation, was found to be at least partly due to the lack of priority accorded by government to policy questions and the influence of donors. The failure to separate the policy development function from the implementation of training programmes, and the undue emphasis on training per se, were shown to have contributed significantly to the lack of a public policy. The view of coordination as control clearly led to the fragmentation and duplication of training programmes. The limited impact of TVET on poverty alleviation, and the cultural and social constraints on women's participation in TVET, were among the more disturbing findings of the study