Transcription of Interview 3

Transcription of Interview 3
Date: July 18, 2009 (Saturday) Time 11: 18 AM to 12:10 PM
Researcher: Sir, Namaste!
Respondent: Sir, Namaste!
Researcher: sir, may I have your few minutes today?
Respondent: Definitely sir.
Researcher: Sir, I am going to interview you online! It takes about 30 minutes Sir.
Respondent: Alright sir. I am ready now.
Researcher: Sir, I think I shouldn't do the briefing of my research as you have guided me many of the times. Actually, the interview guide I have prepared now is based on the quantitative findings that I requested you to fill up two months ago.
Respondent: ok sir
Researcher: Sir, the first question: How can we make people free to acquire knowledge through formal, non-formal and informal means?
Respondent: People learn from their social and natural world every day. Society has developed different institutions to transmit knowledge, skills and competences necessary for life from different modes. Broadly, they are formal, non-formal and informal. The formal one was specialized, developed and expanded throughout the world after industrialization in Europe. This wave has been global and pervasive. However, most of the knowledge, skills and competencies have been taught and learned non-formally and informally. In the latter modes, there are no provisions of certification and accreditation.
Researcher: Among three modes of learning – formal, non-formal and informal – which mode of learning is more important in your opinion?
Respondent: Learning can be possible everywhere. In the course of interaction with other members of society and natural world, different knowledge and skills are generated and established. Formal education can and has been contributing for that. But non-formal and informal education can also contribute significantly to impart knowledge and skills to the learners. Therefore the modes need to be blended for betterment of the common people.
Researcher: O K sir. You said these three modes of learning should be blended. Can you elaborate this opinion sir? How is it possible to blend them?
Respondent: The certification institution need to overview different modes and develop a viable and feasible modus operandi. It will be possible only after blending. After certification, the learners can also join in formal education. Is not it sir?
Researcher: Yes sir. Sir, how can we recognize and certify informal and non-formal skills, knowledge and competences?
Respondent: Specifically we can set up an institution or modus operandi to recognize, certify and provide accreditation the learners through informal and non-formal modes. It would be better to provide options to the learners to take part in exam for their certification. If so, the learners can easily be ready to pay the cost for their certification. The institution should be established in the centre in the beginning. The model should be developed and tested in three districts in the first phase. After consolidation, it can be replicated to other districts gradually.
Researcher: Do you think such system of certification, if developed, helps to enhance lifelong learning and continuing education?
Respondent: Yes. I think it should be done in a phase wise manner. In the first phase, government needs to appoint a core team, train them and assess the pros and cons of three modes. Then different streams, curriculum, examination procedures and schedules should be developed and notified to the applicants. After thorough scrutiny of the learners/ applicants, the institution should give them equivalent certificate similar to that of formal educational institution. This will open the avenues to the informal and non-formal learner to keep on learning throughout their life.
Researcher: What type of curriculum do you want to develop for informal learners? If they are bound with curriculum then doesn't it become like formal one?
Respondent: What I mean is to develop a framework to assess their competence to certify. It would not be confusing if we give the term framework for different streams specifically, technical, professional or general.
Researcher: Yes sir. I understood. And sir, what problem do you see to identify and recognize the precious indigenous knowledge/skills and cultural knowledge of Nepal so as to certify the people who deserve them?
Respondent: The institutions need to synthesize the indigenous and cultural knowledge and skills. The people overlook the indigenous knowledge and skill. The richness of indigenous and cultural knowledge have not been compiled and compared cross-culturally. The investors are not that ready to incorporate them.
Researcher: Do you think the people who are from non-formal and informal background can compete with the ones from formal background, especially in the job market?
Respondent: I think they can also compete with the people with formal background. Some people having educated in engineering and natural sciences have switched to other sectors. Some of the people having informal education have done well. Due to expansion of the formal education, people have been hopeless. If we start certification and accreditation process, we can enkindle their hope again. NESP had also started the process and some farmers, carpenters and mechanics have been professors.
Researcher: Sir, what other provision should our nation make to enhance lifelong learning and continuing education?
Respondent: People think formal education is only education. When they pass certain degree, it will end. Majority of the people have no concept of lifelong education. First of all government and other stakeholders need to clear the confusion. The training curriculum needs to incorporate the essence of the lifelong and continuing education. Now there are different agencies to make public awareness. Every people need to update their knowledgebase to cope up with the changed context. For instance, the khalasis need to be literate and able to scrutinize the identity cards of the passengers. This can be applied in other walks of life. The different bodies of government and NGOs can contribute if we want to intervene through policy.
Researcher: Sir, thank you very much for such valuable opinions. Sir, is there anything you would like to add finally?
Respondent: I think it would be wonderful if you suggest a better model to certify and provide accreditation the informal and non-formal learners. It will be a proactive project. I wish your success in this endeavor.
Researcher: Thank you sir.