Member Since 1973

Partner Ministry/Organization
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade
Mr. Ugyen Dorji, Chief of Division

Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD)
Mr. Norbu Wangchuck, Director of Department of Workforce Planning and Skills Development
Honorary Consulate of Bhutan in Manila
Honorary Consulate of Bhutan in Manila, Philippines
c/o Alternergy, 111 Paseo de Roxas Bldg., Level 3 B, Makati.
Recent Programs Held (2018-2023)
2023:
  • In-Country Program for Bhutan on Embracing Digital Learning in TVET (May 8-12)
2022:
  • Training of Trainers on Automotive Technology Using Virtual TVET (February 14-17)
  • Training of Trainers on Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) Using Virtual TVET (August 22-25)
2019:
  • In-Country Program on the Role of Accreditation in Achieving Quality-Assured TVET Programs (April 1-5)

Country Flag

Official Name
Kingdom of Bhutan
Land Area
38,394 km²
Country Borders
Tibet Autonomous Region of China (north and northwest)
India (south)
Capital
Thimphu
Religion
Mahayana Buddhism
Language
Dzongkha
Demonym
Bhutanese
Major Language/s
Dzongkha
National Holiday
December 17, 1919 (Coronation of Ugyen Wangchuck as the first Druk Gyalpo of modern Bhutan)

Photo courtesy of Joan Thompson

No. of Years - Primary Education
6 years
No. of Years - Middle School
2 years
No. of Years - Secondary Education
4 years
No. of Years - Tertiary Education
3 to 4 years
Ministry of Supervising Education
Ministry of Education, Department of Adult and Higher Education
Agency Handling TVET
Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR)
Formal TVET System
TVET is offered at the secondary education level, and in order for students to prepare for it, they take pre-vocational subjects in accordance with the local needs and the availability of equipment, local traditions, indigenous knowledge and skills. Students need to pass the examination to proceed with general upper secondary or vocational and technical education. Approximately, TVET programmes vary from six months to two years, in which the subjects are linked to the economical needs of Bhutan.

There are elective courses that focus on skills development of the following key industries:
  • Infrastructure: hydrogenation, power transmission and distribution, construction;
  • Services: tourism, healthcare, education, information technology (IT), financial services;
  • Manufacturing: cement, herbal products; and
  • Royal Civil Service Commission (government)
Qualification Framework
Bhutan Vocational Qualifications Framework (BQF) serves as a point of reference for all qualifications and contains information on qualifications for various local and international stakeholders.
  1. Establish and maintain BQF for the development, recognition and award of qualifications, based on knowledge, skills and competence acquired by learners;
  2. Establish and promote the maintenance and improvement of the standards of further education and training awards in Higher education, TVET, general education, Islamic education and Basic education; and
  3. Promote and facilitate access, transfer and progression within the national education system.
Level of NVQS

Source: Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (2013).

TVET Financing
Formal TVET programmes offered by middle and upper secondary education level vocational education and technical training institutes are funded by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources. Other actors involved in financing non-formal TVET programmes include the private sector through public-private partnership (PPP) and Employee Education and Training Funds (EEFE), and other national governments
GDP
3% (2024)
Currency
Bhutanese Ngultrum
Indian Rupee
Major Exports
Ferroalloys ($224M)
Dolomite ($30.9M)
Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($17M)
Cement ($15.6M)
Gypsum ($15.1M)
Major Imports
Refined Petroleum ($105M)
Computers ($96.8M)
Coke ($36.7M)
Light Synthetic Cotton Fabrics ($35.8M)
Wood Charcoal ($35M)
Major Export Partners
India ($322M)
Nepal ($10.4M)
Italy ($6.16M)
South Korea ($1.45M)
Germany ($1.3M)
Major Import Partners
India ($868M)
China ($108M)
Thailand ($65.5M)
United Arab Emirates ($12.1M)
South Korea ($11M)

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 2019
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Type of Government
Democratic Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State
His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Head of Government
Dr. Lotay Tshering
Prime Minister
Branches of Government
The Executive (Prime Minister is the Head of the Government)
The Judicial (Court of Appeal and Supreme Court)
The Legislative (National Council and National Assembly)

Celebration of Dashain, 2020
Photo courtesy of BBS Bhutan

Literacy Rate
72% (2022)
Source: The World Bank
Country Code
+975
ISO Code
BT
Internet TLD
.bt
Other Important Holidays
Traditional Day of Offerings (January 12)
Blessed Rainy Day (September 23)
Dashain (Nepali Festival)(October 12)
Constitution Day (November 11)
Descending Day of Lord Buddha (November 22)

References
  • https://www.tibettravel.org/bhutan-tour/bhutan-border-map.html
  • https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-guide/bhutan/culture
  • https://www.scholaro.com/db/Countries/Bhutan/Education-System
  • https://www.worldeconomics.com/Country-Size/Bhutan.aspx
  • https://thetradecouncil.com/major-exports-of-bhutan/
  • https://oec.world/en/profile/country/btn
  • https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/bhutan/government
  • https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS?locations=BT
  • https://www.kingdomofbhutan.com/visitor/festivals/holidays/holidays2_.html
  • https://unevoc.unesco.org/wtdb/worldtvetdatabase_btn_en.pdf