To assist unemployed youth and individuals interested in pursuing vocational education, the first nationwide Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) fair kicked off in Thimphu on Saturday.
The event is part of a larger initiative designed to raise awareness about ongoing reforms in the TVET sector and highlight the opportunities available in vocational institutes across the country.
The initiative is expected to encourage more young people to view vocational skills as a viable path to meaningful employment, making the sector as an important element of Bhutan’s workforce development.
The fair provides a platform for students, unemployed youth and the general public to explore career and training opportunities.
By showcasing the growing demand for skilled labour, the fairs reflect international trends where vocational education plays a pivotal role in shaping future employment, especially in sectors such as construction, information technology, and hospitality, all of which are projected to grow in Bhutan.
The fairs will be held in four cluster dzongkhags, featuring 10 Technical Training Institutes (TTIs), each presenting their programmes, courses, and career prospects.
The participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with institute representatives through hands-on demonstrations and expert consultations, bridging the gap between formal education and employment.
Such interactions are seen as crucial in challenging the misconception that TVET is a fallback option for academically struggling students.
The need for skilled workers has never been more urgent for Bhutan, as emerging industries and infrastructure projects demand a highly trained workforce.
Further, strengthening the TVET sector is seen as a potential solution to Bhutan’s youth unemployment crisis, one of the country’s major challenges until now.
Speaking at the event, Education Minister Yeezang De Thapa highlighted the fair’s role in advocating for key reforms and initiatives, including the introduction of new high-level courses.
Lyonpo said that the ministry was committed to supporting the Bhutan Education and Skill Training (BEST) project, which would play a central role in the development of the TVET system in the country.
Funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by the International Development Institute of Humber College in partnership with Bhutan’s Department of Workforce Planning and Skills Development, the BEST project spans from 2022 to 2027.
It aims to enhance Bhutan’s TVET sector by improving access to vocational education, especially for women and persons with disabilities, while developing market-relevant courses to ensure that graduates can successfully transition into the labor market.
Lyonpo said that four new internationally accredited diploma courses have been introduced such as Solar PV, Heat Ventilation and AC, Graphic Design, and Electrical Engineering Technician.
These courses, Lyonpo added, aligns with the national skills roadmap, which was developed based on a skills needs assessment carried out by the ministry.
By the end of the 13th plan, the ministry aims to have 50 percent of the workforce with vocational tertiary qualifications and 80 percent by 2033.
According to the BEST project’s country coordinator for Bhutan, Lobzang Dorji, the focus is on the internationalisation of the curriculum, ensuring that Bhutan’s TVET sector remains competitive and forward-looking.
These reforms come at a time when the TVET sector is facing growing criticism for slow progress and inability to attract more people.
