The Government of Nepal has introduced the Career Guidance Service Operation Directive, 2083, to establish a structured system for helping students, young people and job seekers make informed decisions about education, skills development, employment and entrepreneurship. Issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology under Section 19(k) of the Education Act, 2028, the directive aims to provide career-related information and counselling through educational institutions and designated career guidance units. The framework identifies students from Grade 8 onwards, youth, job seekers and other interested individuals as its principal beneficiaries. It emphasizes identifying individuals’ interests, abilities, competencies and potential career paths, while improving access to information about educational opportunities, vocational training, employment prospects and self-employment.
Under the directive, career guidance services will include interest and aptitude assessments, career counselling, educational and vocational guidance, entrepreneurship support and labour market information. Students and young people will be able to receive guidance on selecting appropriate academic subjects, training programmes and career pathways based on their interests and capabilities. The framework also provides for career assessment tools, including questionnaires, career inventories and psychometric instruments, alongside counselling for individuals seeking employment or returning from foreign employment. Schools will be encouraged to provide career development activities, including career awareness sessions, internships, workplace exposure, entrepreneurship education and interaction with employers. The directive also establishes arrangements for training teachers and career counsellors to deliver these services effectively.
A major component of the initiative is the development of a national digital career guidance portal to make counselling resources and employment-related information more accessible. The portal is intended to include educational materials, audio and video resources, scholarship information, training opportunities, labour market information and career guidance tools. According to the directive, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will oversee the development and operation of the digital platform, while coordination will be established with provincial and local governments, schools, vocational training institutions, private-sector organizations and youth-related bodies. A Career Guidance Service Steering Committee chaired by the ministry’s Secretary will provide policy direction, while a dedicated coordination unit within the Education Division will support programme implementation, technical coordination and service expansion.
The directive assigns responsibilities to several institutions, including the Curriculum Development Centre, National Examinations Board, Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), educational institutions, private-sector organizations and youth councils. These organizations will contribute to curriculum integration, counselling resources, employment information, training and career development activities. The government will also establish mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, reporting and quality improvement, with the ministry responsible for programme planning and budgeting. The directive provides for cooperation with government agencies, development partners and other organizations to support implementation. Although the framework establishes the institutional and digital arrangements for career guidance services, it does not announce a nationwide operational launch date for the proposed digital portal or specify the number of institutions that will initially provide the service. The initiative seeks to improve career awareness, strengthen education-to-employment pathways and support better-informed career decisions across Nepal.
