‘Secretarial Efficacy Training’ for the Personal Secretaries to Ministers of Government of Nepal commenced at NASC on Monday, December 20, 2021. Minister of Urban Development, Hon’ble Ram Kumari Jhakri inaugurated the 3-day training program. Executive Director Dr. Rajan Khanal chaired the inaugural session. Senior Director of Studies Mr. Basanta Raj Sigdel welcomed Hon’ble Minister and all the participants of the program and highlighted on the context, need, design and learning approaches of the programme, which aimed at enhancing their secretarial skills for effective management of ministry secretariat. He further informed that the 3-day program broadly covered the role and responsibilities of personal secretaries, managing time and priorities, integrity building, managing office effectively, communicating effectively and fostering interpersonal relations as major learning components of the program that will be delivered through various practical methods and adult learning approaches.
Executive Director Dr. Rajan Khanal shared that role of the personal secretaries to ministers is immense in building effective political- bureaucratic relations, inter agency coordination and needful facilitation for minister’s performance. He stated that people ask questions to those who govern- their representatives to examine the truth and till they are satisfied from their answer. In this relation, he reiterated the need to communicate the right information in a right way and at the right time so that risk of misguiding the ministers will be minimized and potential loss for the citizens and the nation can be avoided. Hence, they need to indicate and provide information to the ministers in such crucial matters honestly and timely. He expressed confidence that the program will contribute in building skills in these areas. He extended sincere thanks to the Minister Hon’ble Ram Kumari Jhakri for her initiation, persuasion and making this happen.
In her inaugural speech, Hon’ble Minister highlighted on the need to develop essential skills to perform crucial role of personal secretaries in respective ministries. She elaborated with example that managing time and handling visitors are the most challenging tasks for them understanding the priorities of ministers and making them accessible to the general public. She also emphasized that their communication skills and behavior is the key for glorifying image of the Ministers among public. She pointed on the need to communicate the key messages and innovative works only that creates awareness among public and build trust toward Ministers and the Government.
Citing her own learning experience in NASC trainings, Hon’ble Minister said that training equips us to doing things differently and we can practically apply those learnings immediately. She asked the participants to create own story of success through self-motivation and sense of accountability towards citizens through ministers managing all stressful situations including balancing professional and personal responsibilities. In this relation, she urged the participants to actively interact, express problems they are facing at work and gain maximum knowledge and skills from the experts and experienced practitioners in these three days. She also requested to training management team to create environment where they could learn practical skills of conducting productive meetings, punctuality, coordinating with public effectively, and motivating and handling stressful situations.
She thanked NASC for this initiation as the image of ministers is highly dependent on how personal secretaries accomplish their responsibilities. In addition, she requested NASC to conduct similar programs regularly also incorporating the civil service staffs involved in such role. In a different context, hon’ble Minister also expressed the need of training and role orientation programs for the members of parliament to prepare them in effectively performing their role as a law and policy maker and practice leadership role for transformation and change. She highlighted the need to ensure alignment in the common interests of the bureaucracy and politicians.
Director of Studies Mr. Ishwari Prasad Ghimire moderated the Opening Session. Center for Customer Care and Relation Management (CCCRM) under Management Learning Group (MLG) organized the training program.