Govt honours CAN Federation, its leaders for ICT skills training

KATHMANDU: The government has honoured the Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) and several of its senior leaders for their contributions to vocational training and human resource development in the country’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

The awards were presented by the National Vocational Training Academy (NVTA) during a ceremony marking the Academy’s second anniversary.

Letters of Appreciation and Commendation were given to the CAN Federation as an organisation for its role in ICT skill development and digital literacy across the country. CAN Federation’s Senior Vice President Chiranjibi Adhikari was recognised for his foundational role in pioneering vocational ICT initiatives, while General Secretary Chandra Bilash Bhurtel was commended for his leadership as Coordinator of the Curriculum Draft Subcommittee.

The recognition highlighted a vocational ICT training model initiated by Chiranjibi Adhikari during his previous tenure as General Secretary. The model moves beyond traditional academic certification by integrating soft skills with professional technical training, aiming to produce graduates with practical, industry‑standard abilities rather than only paper credentials.

Adhikari’s approach reframes industry expectations from being merely 'certified' to being 'mandatory qualified,' emphasising that trainees should leave programmes with real, usable competencies. The initiative has been described using the phrase 'skills in hands' to underline its focus on practical readiness for the workplace.

Officials said the collaboration between the NVTA and CAN Federation produced specialised curricula for two basic skill‑based trades in the computer sector during the fiscal year 2024/25. These programmes were designed to align training outcomes with current labour market demands and to improve the employability of trainees.

The awards were signed and presented by senior officials, including Rajendra Singh Bhandari, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security; Dr Dipak Kafle, Secretary of the Ministry and Chairman of the NVTA Development Committee; and Ramesh Kumar Bakhati, Executive Director of NVTA.

Following the ceremony, the CAN Federation reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation with the Government of Nepal and other stakeholders. The Federation said it will work to expand IT skill development, create sustainable employment opportunities, and strengthen the technical capacity of the Nepalese workforce to compete in the global digital economy.