Ilam's Suryodaya Municipality Launches Campaign to Connect Students with the World of Work

Ilam. Suryodaya Municipality, the largest municipality in the eastern hills, has launched a special campaign to provide students with practical knowledge and field experience alongside theoretical education. The program, titled 'Introducing Students to the World of Work,' is being operated in collaboration with the Skills for Sustainable and Decent Employment Project (INSURE) and with technical support from Helvetas Nepal.

This campaign aims to help students choose their future profession or business according to their interests and abilities. According to the acting Mayor of the municipality, Durga Kumar Baral, the program is organized to develop a sense of respect for labor in students from an early age and to inform them about the practical skills required for employment.

Currently, students from grades 8, 9, and 10 of Baudhadham, Krishnashram, Singhadevi, Fikkal, Karkok, Janak, Saraswati, and Jyoti secondary schools within the municipality are participating in this campaign. Through this, students will get an opportunity to closely understand the working methods and employment opportunities in various professions, industries, and companies.

Under the program, students will not be confined only to the classroom but will be taken on industrial and business tours. Social Development Committee Coordinator Dik Bahadur Bamjan informed that they will be involved in activities such as interactions with local entrepreneurs and experts, exchange of inspirational experiences, resume writing, interview preparation, and effective communication skills. It is believed that such activities will develop entrepreneurial thinking in students and instill the confidence to start their own businesses in the future.

Suryodaya Municipality is also operating many other improvement works in the education sector. Spokesperson Kham Bhujel stated that the municipality is conducting extracurricular activities through the '12 Months-12 Programs,' implementing the local curriculum 'Hamro Suryodaya,' and distributing separate practice books to improve mathematics results. Internet and computers have been arranged in all community schools, and emphasis has been placed on technology-friendly education by discouraging the use of paper.

Similarly, the municipality has also taken steps such as providing scholarships for undergraduate studies to poor and meritorious daughters-in-law and daughters, installing e-attendance systems in 24 schools for monitoring, and arranging identity cards for parents to inquire about the educational status of the schools. A policy has been adopted to open bank accounts for students from grades 1 to 5 to instill a habit of saving among children, and the municipality will also deposit funds into these accounts.