Training for Instructors (TFI) Course Review Workshop held in Nepal

Training for Instructors (TFI) Course Review Workshop – Nepal has been conducted during October 31 to November 2, 2018 in Nagarkot, Bhaktapur, Nepal under Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER), Stage 4, implemented by National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET) in support of the United States Agency for International Development / Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA). Training for Instructors (TFI) is a five-day instructor development course conducted for developing qualified instructors and developing systematic training materials for effective learning.

PEER conducts five major training courses, namely, Medical First Responder (MFR), Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR), Hospital Preparedness for Emergencies (HOPE), Community Action for Disaster Response (CADRE) and Swift Water Rescue (SWR). Along with these main courses, PEER conducts instructor’s development workshops for each course i.e. CSSRIW, MFRIW, H-TFI, and CADRE-TFI/IW for CSSR, MFR, HOPE and CADRE respectively. TFI course is an integral aspect of instructor development process, it is prerequisite for serving as an instructor in PEER Courses. However, now a days TFI has been considered one of the best courses for developing qualified instructors and effective training courses also beyond the PEER. It has been adopted in internal courses conducted by many organizations in Nepal and in the region.

Experienced and pioneer instructors from MFR, CSSR, HOPE, CADRE and SWR gathered in the three-day workshop to discuss on the overall concept, principle and methodologies of the course, and to make necessary revisions and updates as required. The workshop has made detail review on the contents, schedule and other technical aspects. The consensus has been made to keep the TFI as 5-day standard residential course for developing qualified instructors and conducting effective courses. However, while adopting this course by different organizations (out of PEER), considering the resource limitations and target participants, the course can be conducted as non-residential but without compromising in the course contents, exercises and time.

The workshop was ended with a formal closing program in presence of senior representatives from the Government, implementing partners and donor agency. Additional Inspector General of Police Thule Rai, Chief of Administration and Human Resource Department, Nepal Police was the Chief Guest for the Closing Program along with other esteemed guests from Nepali Army, Brigadier General Jeet Bahadur Gurung, Director, Directorate of Disaster Management, Under Secretary Mr. Bamshi Kumar Acharya, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal, Mr. Santosh Gyawali, AID Development Program Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction, Reconstruction and Resilience Office USAID/OFDA, Chief of Party, PEER, Dr. Amod Mani Dixit and Executive Director, NSET, Mr. Surya Naryayan Shrestha were present.

Chief of Party, PEER Dr. Amod Mani Dixit welcomed the guests and presented the synthesis of the workshop. He seemed contended with the development of PEER courses overtime and institutionalization of this courses by various organizations such as Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and various other organizations. TFI being one of the major courses in PEER, he believes the content must be updated timely. Not only in PEER, TFI also plays important role in developing instructors in professionals working in various other sectors. He also added that the update on the course materials should be done as per the guidance from the workshop and suggestions as well as guidance from the participants will be appreciated in the coming days. Representing the participants of workshop Prof. Dr. Pradeep Vaidya highlighted the importance of TFI principles and guidelines. Similarly, he believes this course has to be advocated among various organizations. While in this process the OFDA standard might get compromised to an extent but he believes such minimal flexibility should be considered according to the capabilities of the host institution.

Mr. Bamshi Kumar Acharya, Under Secretary, MoHA, appreciated NSET’s contribution in Nepal and region for DRR and emergency response capacity enhancement. He thanked NSET for conducting such activities and expressed commitments for support on behalf of MOHA.

“Nepali Army has been the integral part of the course development and has institutionalized PEER courses including TFI”, said Brigadier General Jeet Bahadur Gurung, Director, Directorate of Disaster Management. Further he mentioned that these changes, made in TFI with consensus among instructors will definitely have the positive impacts on the regular courses included in basic trainings of Nepali Army.

AIGP Thule Rai himself has been a pioneer instructor for PEER courses, thus he stressed the importance of maintaining standard in these courses. And as such, he also feels this workshop will bring the TFI as more applicable according to the present needs of Nepal in capacity building.

The program was formally concluded by the Executive Director of NSET Mr. Surya Narayan Shrestha with the vote of thanks to the participants and guests. On behalf of NSET, he has committed to incorporate all suggestions/guidance provided by the experts for improving the TFI course. He also assured that NSET has always been maintaining the standard while conducting training courses and TFI is prerequisite for serving as instructor in NSET. He concluded the session by forwarding his insight in the importance of TFI course and he also ensures whether or not the PEER course remains the TFI lives on.

All the TFI CRW participants were awarded with the certificate of appreciation for the contribution in the workshop.

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