TVET has helped transform the life of a talented young female student after giving her the confidence and skills needed to embark on a career in the male dominated world of civil engineering.
Pratikshya Pathak was planning her next steps out of school but was in a dilemma about her further studies. After finding out from her teachers about the opportunities that technical training could provide for employment and long-term earning prospects, she took the bold step of joining a course in civil engineering – despite the fact that few women work in the industry.
Pratikshya today feels lucky to be developing her career prospects through valuable skills training and is grateful for the advice and guidance she received from her teachers.
She says that TVET training can be particularly empowering for women considering work in male-dominated professions and believes that her own training has positively impacted her life, making her more curious, observant and analytical. She is optimistic and hopeful that, through her future work as a civil engineer, she can play a part in the development of her country and its infrastructure in years to come.
Pratikshya is now actively encouraging others to follow in her footsteps and opt for TVET as she knows that having the right skills and qualifications helps young people become more independent and prepare for long and stable careers.
The Dakchyata programme, implemented by the British Council and funded by the European Union, has been working to improve the relevance, quality and sustainability of TVET in Nepal since 2017. In partnership with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) the TVET Public Information Campaign was launched in February 2020, aiming to shape positive public attitudes towards skills for employment, making better information available to young people considering their career options, and enhancing the visibility of TVET and its benefits in Nepal through social media.