Introduction
Role of civil service is pivotal to fulfill the needs and aspirations of citizens in the changing socio-economic environment of Nepal. With the Promulgation of the new constitution, foundation of new structure of governance as federal system has been envisioned to leverage decision making authorities at local level with optimum utilization of resources; and accelerate national development activities. In order to capitalize these activities, human resource is one of the key components for successful implementation of the provisions and spirit of the constitution to execute and achieve this vision. This role greatly demands higher level of competencies and commitments of civil servants for effective, efficient and equitable delivery of public services.
Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC) has been providing training to develop functional and behavioral competencies of the civil servants since decades. In this context, Basic Administration Training (BAT) is the induction training organized by NASC to inculcate and develop required knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) to the newly appointed Gazetted Class-III Officers of the Government of Nepal who have diverse academic and socio-cultural background with or without prior job experience. The programme aims to orient, socialize and sensitize the newly appointed officers with core values, functions and practices of civil service and to enhance their core competencies so that they can deliver quality service to the people with greater extent of professionalism, serving attitude and empathetic behavior.
BAT is one of the flagship trainings of NASC being organized since its inception in 2039 BS. The programme was non-residential with three months’ duration till 2070 BS. However, 16th and 17th batches in 2056 and 2057 were residential. Detailed Training Need Assessment (TNA) had been conducted in 2070 BS and the programme was redesigned to ensure that it incorporates more practical approaches that is comprised of ‘Internship’ and ‘Know Your Country’ (KYC) programme as well. The redesigned programme has been residential with six- month duration since then.
In this 34th series of the BAT, newly appointed class III officers of Nepal Foreign Affairs Service, Nepal Parliamentary Service and Nepal Audit Service shall be participating. The training programme is three months’ foundation course comprised of six different modules. After successful completion the foundation course, officer trainees shall be entitled for graduation.
Course Aim
Develop functional and behavioral competencies of newly appointed officers to enable them to provide quality service to the citizens with greater degree of professionalism.
Course Objectives
Upon the successful completion of the BAT Course, officer trainees shall be able to:
- Demonstrate better and specific understanding of role, functions, work procedures, practices and culture of government organizations;
- Explain role and responsibilities of civil servants as change agents in improving governance system of the country in the changing context;
- Enhance and ensure all the essential managerial skills required to perform their job immediate after the deputation/placement to given duty stations;
- Demonstrate the most appropriate and better social etiquettes to the profession, context and people;
- Practice inclusive governance approaches in their actions, decisions and behavior;
- Communicate in English language with better confidence and precision; and,
- Develop and demonstrate practical computer skills and applications thereof essential for executing job responsibilities both efficiently and effectively.
Course Structure
The course has been structured into different modules of Classroom sessions, Term paper writing, KYC programme, and various Extra and Co-Curricular Activities (ECCA) to develop personality and shape behavior of all the officer trainees appropriate to the ethos of civil service.
Training Methods
The classroom sessions shall be delivered using social learning approach with participatory methods that is comprised of interactive lecture, brainstorming, group discussion, role-play, case study, syndicate discussion, management games, project assignment, self-assessment instruments and practical exercises.
Residential Arrangement
All the officer trainees must have residential programme of about 30 days within three-month BAT programme duration. There are several ECCA programme which have been designed as integral component of the BAT from early morning till evening apart from daily class room learning sessions. Therefore, no outing is allowed for the officer trainees during 30-day residential period, including public holidays.
Resource Persons
Faculties of NASC and subject experts in the area of management, public administration, governance and the related theme will be involved in the training as the resource persons to facilitate learning sessions.
Value Commitment
Potential contribution of newly appointed officers in civil service is largely determined by their perception towards civil service and value system they are evolved from. Socialization is critical stage which orients them to live with core values of service to deliver excellence in their actions, decisions and behavior. With the realization of this fact, NASC brings officer trainees together in generating value commitment on their own through rigorous and inductive participation which they shall live with throughout their professional and personal life. For the purpose, a talk programme shall be organized by veterans from civil service to share philosophies of service, value systems and power of personal commitment in building integrity and delivering results in civil service.
Officer trainees shall derive core values of civil service through inductive approach; a facilitative discussion and series of contestations and discussion among their groups. The objective of this process is to ensure that the newly appointed civil servants will adhere by the values of civil service in order to provide qualitative service to citizens of the country in their respective work areas after placement. Each individual shall express commitment to those values after signing and reciting it as oath among themselves in the presence of the NASC officials and the representatives of the Government. The 34th batch ‘Value Commitment’ shall be finally handed over to the government of Nepal. A monitoring team comprised of the coordinator and a representative from participants shall monitor the adherence of value commitment during the training programme and report its status periodically.