PM Karki Stresses Education Must Go Beyond Formal Certificates, Urges Skill Development

Pokhara. Prime Minister Sushila Karki stated that education must not be limited to formal certificates.

Addressing the 21st Convocation Ceremony of Pokhara University on Friday, Prime Minister Karki, who is also the Chancellor of the university, emphasized the need to focus on producing skilled, employable, entrepreneurial, innovative, and ethical human resources according to the needs of contemporary society.

She stressed the necessity of promoting academic activities based on the development of new technologies and research, and urged that university programs must be directly linked to strengthening the economy. She noted that knowledge or curriculum becomes irrelevant if it cannot be connected to economic prosperity and human welfare.

"It is a common concern that a large number of youths are attracted abroad immediately after completing their university studies. Therefore, both students and the university need to focus on how to adapt themselves to new technologies and the rapidly changing global environment, and how to become competitive and capable," Prime Minister Karki said.

She stated that embracing change as an opportunity and adopting the path of innovation and entrepreneurship has become an essential requirement of the present time. She praised Pokhara University for its significant contribution to expanding access to higher education in fields like management and science since its inception.

"It seems necessary to focus on quality now and work hard to produce human resources and knowledge that can withstand the demands and competition of the global market," Prime Minister Karki said, "The certificate you have received is not just a basis for employment; it is also an indicator of the capacity to identify complex problems in Nepali society and the nation and find long-term solutions for them. You must succeed in that."

Prime Minister Karki opined that in today's era, youth are the politicians, administrators, policymakers, and agents of social transformation, and the foundation for that must be strengthened from today itself. She mentioned that the voices raised by the youth on Bhadra 23 and 24 last year were connected to very profound and fundamental issues.