Sherig Bhutan

09/10/2026

𝐎𝐧𝐌𝐲𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

The PEMA, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, and UNICEF Bhutan launched the OnMyMind Campaign report today at the fourth PEMA Symposium in Thimphu, highlighting young people’s perspectives and the importance of adolescent mental health.

Most young people in Bhutan know where to seek help for mental health concerns, but many do not recognise signs of stress in themselves, findings from the nationwide OnMyMind campaign show.

A mental health pulse survey conducted during the campaign found that 69.1% of respondents below age 20 recognised changes in their body or thoughts as signs of stress, while 18.2% were unsure. Some young respondents also felt they did not need support when facing mental health challenges. Together, these findings underline the need to help adolescents recognise stress early and seek support before concerns escalate.

The findings come as the four-month OnMyMind campaign concludes, having reached 5,402 adolescents and caregivers through school, community and digital engagement across the country. This included 3,721 adolescents and 1,681 parents and caregivers. The campaign was launched in June 2026 in response to growing concerns about adolescent mental health.

At the time of the campaign’s launch, available data showed that nearly one in five students reported high stress or anxiety, more than 13,000 reported a risk of self-harm during strong emotions, and 12% reported recent substance use. At the same time, 80% of adolescents reported strong family support, highlighting the significant role that parents and caregivers play in supporting young people’s wellbeing.

The pulse survey received 2,935 responses, including 2,304, from respondents below age 20. Among younger respondents, 94.4% recognised that sadness, stress and worry are normal experiences; 94.4% identified reaching out to a trusted adult or calling a helpline as the appropriate response when support is needed; and 95.2% understood the 1098 helpline as a confidential source of mental health and protection support.

The campaign period also saw an increase in children contacting support services. Data from The PEMA show that the monthly average rose from 5.6 between January and May to 6.5 between June and September, an increase of approximately 16%.

The survey also offered insights into adults’ understanding of mental health. Among respondents aged 20 and above, 81.4% recognised changes in the body or thoughts as signs of stress, compared with 69.1% of younger respondents. Most adults identified appropriate help-seeking responses (93.4%) and understood the role of the 1098 helpline (94.9%). However, a small proportion still favoured handling concerns alone or keeping them secret, reinforcing the need to equip parents, caregivers and other adults to support adolescents and encourage early help-seeking.

Overall, the campaign found progress in normalising conversations about mental health, raising awareness of support services and encouraging help-seeking. The next priority is to help young people recognise stress earlier and ensure that families, schools and service providers can respond before concerns become harder to manage.

The campaign culminated at The PEMA Symposium with spoken poetry performances by adolescents. Sharing their perspectives on mental health and wellbeing in their own words, the young performers placed adolescent voices at the center of the conversation.

Department of Education Programmes, MOESD
School Health and Nutrition Bhutan

08/10/2026

𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐂𝐂𝐃 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫

We are pleased to announce vacancies for the position of ECCD Facilitator at the S2A level, open to both in-service ECCD Facilitators and pre-service candidates.

Slots: 226

Eligibility: Candidates with a Diploma in ECCD

Application deadline: 17 October 2026

Application link: https://jobs.rcsc.gov.bt/

For further details, please visit: https://education.gov.bt/2026/10/07/vacancy-announcement-eccd-facilitator-at-s2a-level/

07/10/2026

𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐧’𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐨

A Japanese delegation comprising Mr. Kazuhiko Ohe, Mayor of Ama Town; Mr. Hiroki Miura, Mayor of Hamada City; and other Japanese officials called on the Hon’ble Lyonpo for Education and Skills Development today. The delegation was accompanied by the Chief Representative of the JICA Bhutan Office.

Welcoming the delegation, Lyonpo expressed appreciation for Japan’s longstanding friendship with Bhutan and JICA’s significant support to the country’s education sector.

The discussions focused on the JICA partnership program, particularly the Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Arts Education initiatives being implemented in selected schools. The meeting also explored opportunities to expand PBL initiatives to more schools and strengthen collaboration through teacher and student exchange programmes.

The delegation is in Bhutan to participate in the Bhutan-Japan 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations: Bhutan-Hamada City & Ama Town Cooperation and Exchange Commemorative Symposium, scheduled to be held in Thimphu on 9 October 2026.

07/10/2026

𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐒𝐒’𝐬 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬

Motithang Higher Secondary School (HSS) has been selected as one of the Top 10 finalists for the 2027 Zayed Sustainability Prize, representing South Asia in the Global High Schools category with its student-led project, “Smart Agriculture for a Sustainable Future.”

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, a pioneering global award of the UAE, recognises innovative and impactful solutions that respond to pressing sustainability challenges and contribute to positive change.

The school was selected from a record 10,233 submissions from 177 countries.

The idea emerged from a practical challenge faced within the school’s agricultural area: reducing the time and labour required for maintenance while making more efficient use of water. Driven by this challenge, eight students from Classes IX and XI began exploring ways to apply technology to make agricultural practices more efficient and sustainable.

Their efforts have resulted in an IoT-based smart farming system that integrates sensors, automated drip irrigation, an ESP32 microcontroller and mobile technology to monitor and manage irrigation. The system is designed to improve water efficiency while reducing the need for manual watering and maintenance.

More than a farming project, the initiative has created an opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with real-world problem-solving. It brings together Science, ICT, STEM, Agriculture and entrepreneurship, transforming the school’s agricultural area into a practical learning space where students can experiment, innovate and develop solutions.

As part of its future plans, the school aims to expand the smart irrigation system across approximately two acres of its School Agriculture Area and support the reforestation of two acres of fire-damaged land near Sangaygang. These initiatives will integrate smart technology with water conservation, environmental restoration and climate resilience

The winner of the 2027 Zayed Sustainability Prize will be announced in Abu Dhabi on 12 January 2027, with the winning school receiving a US$150,000 prize. As a finalist, the school is eligible for a US$25,000 prize, which would support the further development of its sustainability initiatives.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for the school, demonstrating how a school-based initiative can grow into a project with global recognition. It further reflects the potential of young people to use knowledge, technology and innovation to address environmental challenges and contribute to a more sustainable future.

06/10/2026

𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫

Slots: 2

Qualification Required: Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree; preference will be given to candidates with an engineering background

Application deadline: 19 October 2026

For further details, please visit: https://education.gov.bt/2026/10/05/vacancy-announcement-for-chief-program-officer/

05/10/2026

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessment (BCSEA) has released the final examination timetable for the 2026 academic year.

All students, teachers, parents, and relevant stakeholders are advised to review the timetable carefully and make the necessary preparations.

Please note that this schedule is final and will be followed for the 2026 examinations.

The timetable is available online at https://bcsea.gov.bt/timetable?type=final

05/10/2026

: Highlighting counseling as an important form of support and a safe space where young people can be heard, understood and supported.

Because sometimes, having someone listen can make all the difference.

Trigger warning: Su***de

“When I started teaching, I was a full-time teacher who also provided counseling to students on the side. At that time, counselors were given only about 15 days of training, while still expected to manage their teaching responsibilities. There were clear role conflicts, additional workloads, and often, the counseling was not as effective as it could have been.

So, when the Ministry of Education announced a new counselor training programme in 2012, I applied. More than 200 teachers applied, but only 12 were selected for the first batch and 20 for the second. I was fortunate to be among them. The selection was based not only on academic qualifications, but also on our aptitude, attitude and empathy.

We spent two years undergoing training in Samtse while continuing to work as teachers. The course changed the way I understood counseling. Until then, counseling was often seen as giving advice. I learned that it was much more about listening. We were taught approaches that blended Western and Eastern ideas, while also learning how to connect with students and provide career guidance.

I was then placed as a full-time counselor at a school in eastern Bhutan. In 2013, counseling was still something new in schools. Students were hesitant to see a counselor, and even adults were unsure about what counseling meant. Some school administrators still preferred disciplinary measures over counseling.

I initially struggled to get students to come to me. We responded by continuously raising awareness about what counseling could offer and why it mattered.

The issues students brought to us were varied: academic pressure, difficult family environments, bullying, gang conflicts and, increasingly, conflicts playing out on social media. Through group counseling, I found that some students’ conflicts were influenced by conflicts they had witnessed among adults during community events, sports and games. Conflict among grown-ups could become contagious among children.

Counseling gave students a space to slow down, reflect on their actions and understand their impact on others. They learned negotiation and communication skills. Some students, however, needed clinical support, and we worked as a bridge, referring them to the hospitals when necessary.

In 2015, there was a su***de at a school, and I had to travel there to support the school community. A su***de does not affect only one person. It affects friends, teachers, families and the wider school community. Teachers can experience a deep sense of helplessness, while principals may feel responsible and accountable for what happened.

Our role was to help stabilise the situation, identify those who needed support and make sure the students and school staff were safe. We also had to be mindful of the possibility of further distress or su***de contagion.

Counselors are expected to remain calm and non-judgmental, but we are human too. When we repeatedly hear difficult stories, some begin to connect with our own experiences. We can experience secondary trauma, helplessness and burnout. That is why we are encouraged to seek supervision from senior counselors whenever we experience distress. We also met annually to share experiences, learn from one another and exchange
ways of coping.

By 2020, I had moved into a programme-level position and was no longer working directly
with clients. But during COVID-19, and when counselors left for further studies, I returned to
counseling when needed.

After more than a decade in this field, people often ask me how I measure success. For teachers, success may be when a student gets high marks. For parents, it may be when their child gets into college. But for a counselor, success can look very different.

I remember students who had struggled with substance use and had been terminated from school. For us, success was helping them return, stay in school and eventually complete school. Sometimes, success is not about how high a student climbs. It is simply about helping them find a way to keep going.”

Through , we are sharing the stories of counselors and highlighting the important role they play in shaping the lives of students and adolescents.

In collaboration with The PEMA Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD), and UNICEF, we are highlighting counseling as an important form of support and a safe space where young people can be heard, understood and supported.

Because sometimes, having someone listen can make all the difference.

03/10/2026

𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐄-𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 དམ་ཚིག (𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐠) 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭-𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

The Engineering Professionals Council (EPC), under the Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority (BQPCA), launched its E-Learning Course on དམ་ཚིག (Damtshig) in Engineering and Built-Environment Practices yesterday. The initiative represents an important step towards strengthening ethical conduct, professional responsibility and integrity alongside technical competence among engineering and built-environment professionals in Bhutan.

The course has been developed in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and is designed to provide professionals with accessible, practical and context-specific learning on ethical conduct, professional responsibilities and integrity in the engineering and built-environment sector. The course consists of four modules covering key areas including professional integrity, duties and responsibilities, public trust and corruption-free professional services, and ethical decision-making in professional practice.

The course places particular emphasis on དམ་ཚིག (Damtshig), understood in this context as a commitment to uphold integrity, responsibility and ethical conduct in professional practice. For engineering professionals, this commitment is especially important given the direct impact of engineering and built-environment decisions on public safety, quality, the environment and the use of public resources. By connecting professional ethics with a Bhutanese value, the course seeks to encourage professionals to view ethical practice not only as a regulatory obligation, but also as a personal and professional commitment to society.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Ugyen Tshewang, Director of BQPCA, commended the EPC for this timely and meaningful initiative and highlighted the importance of embedding ethical values alongside technical competence in professional practice. He noted that engineering professionals are entrusted with responsibilities that have a direct bearing on public safety, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability and public resources, making integrity and accountability fundamental to the profession.

The e-learning course also supports the EPC's broader efforts to promote continuous professional development and digital access to professional learning. Successful completion of the course will form part of the professional requirements for relevant EPC registration and certification processes and will contribute towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

The launch is also aligned with BQPCA's ongoing digital transformation efforts to make regulatory and professional services more accessible, efficient and responsive. Through the e-learning platform, engineering and built-environment professionals across the country will be able to access the course without the need for physical attendance, supporting wider participation and continuous learning.

The EPC will begin its registration drive from October 13, providing professionals with an opportunity to engage with the Council's registration and certification processes and strengthen their professional standing.

The launch was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Thimphu Thromde, ACC and officials from the Ministry, reflecting the collaborative effort to strengthen professional ethics, accountability and quality within Bhutan's engineering and built-environment sector.

The EPC encourages all relevant engineering and built-environment professionals to make use of the e-learning course and contribute towards building a professional culture grounded in དམ་ཚིག, integrity, competence and responsibility.

02/10/2026

𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

A six-member Team Bhutan, comprising four Class XI students and two mentors, will represent Bhutan at the FIRST Global Challenge 2026, scheduled to take place in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 7-10 October 2026.

Coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, the team was selected through a national selection process involving students and teachers from across the country. The student team comprises two girls and two boys, bringing together young innovators with diverse experiences and interests in science, technology, and innovation.

This year’s FIRST Global Challenge, themed “Igniting Innovation,” focuses on wildfire prevention, mitigation, and recovery. The challenge encourages participating teams to use creativity, engineering, and technology to explore solutions that can address fire-related risks and disasters.

In preparation for the competition, the team has undergone intensive training focused on strengthening their technical, problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation skills.

The event will bring together students from more than 190 countries on a global platform to compete, exchange ideas, collaborate with peers from different countries and showcase their technological capabilities.

The Ministry has been participating in the FIRST Global Challenge since 2023, providing students with opportunities to engage in international STEM activities and gain practical experience in robotics, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving.

The Ministry wishes Team Bhutan a safe journey and a meaningful learning experience as they represent Bhutan on the global stage and connect with young innovators from around the world.

Explore more at:
https://www.facebook.com/TeamBhutan
https://first.global/fgc/

01/10/2026

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞!

The Bhutan Skills Programme 2027 invites you to join the Bhutanese Traditional Cuisine Course, where you can learn the techniques, flavours, and traditions behind some of Bhutan’s most iconic dishes.

For more details, please visit https://bhutanskillsprogramme.com/

-Department of Workforce Planning and Skills Development, Bhutan