Evaluating the Impact of Mason Training on Residential Building Construction: A Case Study of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the application of masonry training and its impact on the building construction sector of Pokhara Metropolitan City. The main objectives of this study are to assess current status of masons, their preference of mason training program, and its impact on the local construction industries. A sample of 368 residential buildings with plinth tie beam construction completed or in progress was selected from the study area. In total, 284 masons who have participated in the program connected to mason training were identified while visiting 368 construction sites of residential buildings. The study found that most of the masons were migrated workers in the Pokhara valley and majority of them are between the ages of 30 to 41 years. The seven-day training module emerged as the most preferred among various options, including 15-day, 30-day, and longer-duration programs. The result showed that mason training is found effective in terms of knowledge and skills. However, it has been observed that the work on the site has not been found satisfactory because of the pressure from the supervisor and contractor to speed up the works and to minimize the cost.