KATHMANDU: The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has begun the second edition of its Summer Skill Course for Professional Mountain Guide (PMG) Training, with participants set to undergo theoretical and field-based training in Kathmandu and the Kanchenjunga region of Taplejung.

The 40-day course, which runs from August 16 to September 24, was formally inaugurated by NMA President Fur Gelje Sherpa at the association's secretariat in Nagpokhari, Naxal.

NMA General Secretary Rajendra Bahadur Lama, Treasurer Sumi Lama, Central Secretariat Member and Training and Expedition Committee Convener Furi Geljen Sherpa, and Executive Board Member and Training and Expedition Committee member Dawa Tashi Sherpa also attended the inauguration and extended their best wishes to the participants and training team.

The summer skill course forms part of the 1,696-hour Professional Mountain Guide curriculum, which has been approved by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT).

Participants will initially undertake theoretical classes and preparatory sessions in Kathmandu before travelling to the Kanchenjunga region for intensive field-based training in the coming days.

The NMA said the training is intended to contribute to the development of skilled and professional mountain guides and strengthen Nepal's human resources for the mountain tourism sector.

NMA President Fur Gelje Sherpa said the association expects the comprehensive training to support the development of professional guides while contributing to the sustainable growth of Nepal's mountain tourism industry.

The latest course follows the NMA's earlier postponement of the second summer phase of the PMG training in July amid criticism from sections of Nepal's mountaineering community over the programme's design, approval process and relationship with the country's established guide-training system. The NMA subsequently announced a revised schedule for the course.