Feature: Nepalese students demand technical education, guarantee of employment in new constitution

David Tamang, a Grade 10 student in the Nepalese capital, will take the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations this year, which will pave his way for entrance to university and hopefully a good career.

But his worries are growing regarding the possibility of leaving the country soon for employment opportunities overseas.

And the reason is simple; there are minimal employment opportunities in the Himalayan nation, which can cater to the ability of some youngsters and convince them to stay and work inside the country.

At a time when the country is going to promulgate a new constitution, a permanent resident of Kavre, one of the regions worst-hit by the earthquake, Tamang, told Xinhua that the guarantee of employment remained an issue.

"Our education system is too weak and cannot produce skilled manpower. So, I hope for a guarantee of employment within the country by prioritizing technical education."

Tamang, 15, interacted with the lawmakers of the Constituent Assembly and made the same suggestion during a program organized at Suryodaya Secondary School on Monday afternoon.

These days, such public feedback programs are being organized across the country to incorporate the voice of the public in the new constitution.

Referring to the national strike held last Friday, another Grade 10 student, Nisha Gupta said, "The strike culture should be stopped soon as it hampers education and students. Schools are peaceful zones so there should not be any disturbance."

Regarding the new constitution, she demanded a new law of life imprisonment or even the death penalty for those convicted of rape and corruption.

Other students like Tamang and Gupta also expressed their concern over the hot topics like provision of citizenship to children through the maiden name of mothers, fewer federal provinces to lessen the economic burden on the country, and free education to the students up to post-graduate level, among others.

In a most surprising way, the school students who are often less concerned about politics, suggested to the lawmakers to make a provision in the constitution that states an age limit and qualification for political leaders.

"The standard qualification provision should be made compulsory at least for the prime minister and president. Or else the politicians should hand over the leadership to the younger generation," said Saurav Ansari of the draft constitution.

In response, the Constituent Assembly member of Nepali Congress Nabindra Raj Joshi said, "Youths are the future of any country. We would like to welcome the new generation into politics but they should have a sense of responsibility."

He also said that the government will try its best to incorporate the suggestions of the public and students in the new constitution.

During the two-day national campaign on public feedback over the draft constitution held across the country, 184,674 participants gave their opinions, with 153,193 suggestions being made in total.

"Around 4 million Nepalese youths work outside the country as non-skilled laborers so it's really a challenge to stop the brain- drain process. We need to produce skilled and capable manpower," CPN-UML lawmaker Mohan Baniya said to the students.

As the general population has been demanding directly elected executives, less federal provinces and a declaration of the nation as as Hindu country in the new constitution, only the students have come up with suggestions on education and employment. Endi