A total of 1,500 youths from various districts of the country have been receiving vocational training imparted by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

The city office said that an additional 1,100 youths, who had shown keen interest in training, will be selected in the second phase, which will start after the completion of the first batch.

“Our staff have been sorting out additional candidates who are genuinely interested in the training,” said Shailendra Jha, a member of the municipal planning commission. “They will receive training in the second phase.”

The City office had planned to train 2,081 youths in the KMC “Skill Fair-2024” that kicked off on May 1. However, the number of unemployed youths applying for the training opportunity is set to increase given the high demand, officials said. Some aspirants have arrived in Kathmandu all the way from several remote districts.

According to KMC officials, the training is being imparted in collaboration with various organisations including Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal and others.

“Some youths will graduate after a week and some in three weeks,” said Jha. “The training may not make one fully skilled but help them figure out the area of their interest, help them get basic knowledge and encourage them to search for apprenticeship training.”

Officials said they have also contacted various companies to provide on-the-job training to those completing the municipal course. The majority of the youths receiving training are non-voters of the metropolis, according to officials. Most youths have shown interest in mobile repair, computer maintenance, house wiring and plumbing.

The metropolis plans to tie the programme to its labour bank, which was started to help unemployed youths in finding jobs and to help private organisations, companies and business entities operating in the metropolis find the required workforce.

Around 400 unemployed youths, who had applied for jobs, have found jobs under the city office itself for repair and maintenance, cleaning, environmental conservation, and river cleaning.

Officials said that organisations and companies can also approach the metropolis if they want to hire the unemployed youths.