Youth in Bhotekoshi to be taught Chinese for employment

By Chitra Kumar Mijar,Sindhupalchowk, June 19: The Chinese government has pledged to teach the youth of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality Chinese language, provide them with jobs, and initiate business activities in Khasa and Tatopani.

Yhe Khasa bazar of China lies close to the municipality. China is developing Khasa as a city. The Chinese side has been working to promote trade from there, attract foreign tourists, and provide employment to youth living along the border.

As the reconstruction of Khasa city is in its final stage, the Chinese side has taken initiative to provide employment to the youth of Bhotekoshi. The Chinese government is focused on providing jobs by teaching the Chinese language.

In line with this goal, Lumbini University and Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality signed a bilateral agreement on May 27. Lumbini University’s Vice Chancellor Subarna Lal Bajracharya, Registrar Tilak Ram Acharya, and Bhotekoshi Chairperson Pasang Nurpu Sherpa signed the agreement.

Following the agreement, Lumbini University is preparing to teach the Chinese language to the youth of Bhotekoshi from the Nepali month of Bhadra. 

After the Chinese language session, China plans to take those youth to Chinese cities including Khasa for higher education. In the first year, China is preparing to take 50 youth for study in its cities.

According to the agreement, Bhotekoshi is including the issue in the policy and programme of the new fiscal year and is preparing to get it endorsed it through the village assembly.

The municipality has already started the selection process for the students to be sent to China. 

Chairperson Sherpa informed that priority has been given to students who have completed or are about to pass intermediate level. 

The university will come to the municipality and teach the Chinese language for six months to one year. 

Chinese language teachers will come from China. The agreement mentions that the rural municipality will arrange food and accommodation for teachers and students.

After learning basic Chinese, the Chinese government will make arrangements for free admission and hostel facilities in various colleges across Chinese cities, according to Chairperson Sherpa. 

The Chinese government will also provide pocket money to the students. Nepali students achieving higher education in the Chinese language will be offered suitable employment. 

The agreement states that after completing their Bachelor’s degree, the Chinese government will provide them with jobs.

For the past few years, Chinese language has been taught at Jhirpu Secondary School in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality. 

According to the school management committee chairperson, Ang Tshering Sherpa, some students who studied Chinese at the school have already been sent to China.

Before the earthquake of April 25, 2015, nearly 5,000 youth from the rural municipality used to work in trade and labour sectors in Chinese cities including Khasa. 

However, after the earthquake, the situation changed, and those youth returned home to do basic work. 

According to Chairperson Sherpa, to retain youth in the municipality and prevent foreign migration, local employment opportunities such as coffee production, carpet weaving, paper work, training in agriculture and livestock farming, and employment in local hydropower projects have been provided.