According to andyeducation, Nepal’s educational system is divided into three levels: primary, lower secondary and higher secondary. Primary education is compulsory for children aged 5 to 10 and consists of five years of schooling. This is followed by three years of lower secondary education which culminates in the School Leaving Certificate Examination (SLC). Upon passing SLC, students can opt to pursue higher secondary education which spans two years and culminates in the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) examination. Tertiary education in Nepal is provided by both public and private institutions. The public institutions are operated by the Ministry of Education while the private institutions are accredited by different agencies, such as the Nepal Council for Technical Education (NCTE) and University Grants Commission (UGC). Public universities in Nepal include Tribhuvan University, Pokhara University and Kathmandu University. Private universities include Ace Institute Of Management, Kathmandu Medical College and Asian Institute Of Technology And Management (AITM). The country also has many vocational training centers which offer short courses for those interested in pursuing a career in a specific field such as hospitality services or tourism. These centers are often funded by government programs such as the Skills Development Fund (SDF), which provides funding for short courses to enhance employability skills for job seekers. Additionally, there are several other programs available to help individuals gain access to higher education such as Student Loan Fund (SLF), Higher Education Bursary Fund (HEBF), Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), and National Student Financial Assistance Scheme (NSFAS). See educationvv for Nepal educational systems.