Bhutan : Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project

Sovereign Project | 50296-002

The project will support the government in expanding and upgrading the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system for modern, diversified, and job-oriented skills development. Bhutan, a landlocked country with a population of 780,000, has made great strides in basic education, and it now needs to accelerate the development of a skilled workforce to meet the economic needs for competitiveness and sustained growth. Bhutan's Twelfth Five-Year Plan, 20182023 prioritizes skills development for jobs.

Project Details

Project Name Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project
Project Number 50296-002
Country / Economy Bhutan
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 0596-BHU: Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project
Asian Development Fund US$ 15.00 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Education / Education sector development - Technical and vocational education and training

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The project will support the government in expanding and upgrading the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system for modern, diversified, and job-oriented skills development. Bhutan, a landlocked country with a population of 780,000, has made great strides in basic education, and it now needs to accelerate the development of a skilled workforce to meet the economic needs for competitiveness and sustained growth. Bhutan's Twelfth Five-Year Plan, 20182023 prioritizes skills development for jobs.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Bhutan made impressive progress in socioeconomic development over 20072017 and its economy grew at an average annual rate of 7.7%. The country doubled its per capita gross domestic product and halved the poverty rate. However, such rapid development was largely driven by the capital-intensive hydropower sector and did not lead to adequate job creation. Economic diversification and job creation are among the top priorities of the government.

Bhutan faces high youth unemployment. The youth unemployment rate of 13.2% in 2016 was 6 times the average national unemployment rate and has been rising in recent years. At the same time, employers find it difficult to recruit skilled workers. Skills shortages are one of the critical constraints to the growth of the private sector and diversification of the economy. According to the National Workforce Plan, 20162022, based on a survey of employers in three priority sectors (construction, tourism, and production), more than 33% of employers face skills shortages, impacting on productivity and business performance. The National Workforce Plan estimates over 78,000 jobs will be generated by the construction, tourism, and manufacturing sectors during 20162022. In 2017, over 14,000 new secondary and tertiary education graduates entered the labor market. Equipping these new graduates with market-oriented skills needed by industry will help reduce the skills shortages.

Challenges in skills development. The skills development system in Bhutan faces constraints in access. In 2016, only 6.9% of grade 10 students enrolled in TVET. The current annual intake capacity of the public technical training institutes (TTIs) is limited, catering to only about 635 students, compared to the over 3,000 grade 10 graduates and nearly 6,000 grade 12 graduates entering the workforce in 2016. The TTIs offer courses mostly at the basic certificate level and in traditional areas (e.g., electrical, mechanical, welding, automobile, masonry, plumbing, and carpentry) mostly associated with manual work, which is not preferred by youth mainly because of the low social recognition for this type of work. Training for emerging occupations, including service sector jobs such as information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services, food and beverage, tourism and hospitality, media and communication, and food processing, is required. Outdated and dysfunctional equipment in TTIs is in dire need of replacement. Trainers lack capacity and professional development. There is a need for career guidance with exposure to the world of work to increase awareness of school students and parents of skills development opportunities leading to jobs.

Skills development in the country also faces the challenge of lack of quality and relevance. An estimated 80% of training programs are delivered at the basic certificate level, which does not command much market value. There is a shortage of middle and advanced skills, with demand largely met by foreign workers. Such a shortage will constrain the continued advancement of Bhutan and its ability to deliver sustainable jobs to its predominantly young population. The government recognizes the need for enhancing the capacities of trainers through in-service training programs and international collaborations in TVET. It aims to provide IT-based teaching and learning processes in schools and TTIs to adequately prepare the country's youth for an increasingly digital marketplace. Schools are preponderantly geared to academic education without sufficient preparation for the world of work. Labor market surveys reveal that Bhutanese youth do not possess the skills that employers are looking for, which gives rise to skills mismatches. Partnerships with private sector training providers to deliver market-relevant courses will help address such mismatches and improve job placements.

Opportunities in skills development. The government attaches great importance to skills development for jobs and is highly committed to improving the TVET sector. A number of policy documents provide the basis for this. The TVET Blueprint, 20162026 articulates the vision for improving and transforming the skills development system. The Education Blueprint, 20142024 outlines priorities for enhancing education quality, including strengthening TVET in schools. The Economic Development Policy of 2016 aims to diversify the economy, which requires appropriately skilled human capital. The government plans to expand capacities for TVET provision, and raise the proportion of higher secondary students enrolling in TVET to 20% by 2024 from the current 6.9%. For this, the government recognizes the need for secondary school students (grades 912) to have access to more diversified learning opportunities including vocational training to further pursue TVET.

Prior experience of the Asian Development Bank. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has long-standing experience in TVET and education in Bhutan. ADB financed the establishment of the TTIs, forming the backbone of public sector TVET institutions, under the Basic Skills Development Project from 2001 to 2006. The validation report by ADB's Independent Evaluation Department noted that the project was instrumental in skilling young labor market entrants to compete with expatriate labor. Areas for improvement identified include the need for course diversification, diploma courses, and institutionalized industry partnerships, which are included in this project. ADB technical assistance (TA) helped to develop the TVET Blueprint, which provides the vision for reforms and targets in the TVET sector. The government asked ADB to support its implementation.

Value added by ADB's assistance. ADB is well placed to build on past collaborations in TVET and school education. ADB's value addition will be to (i) help elevate standards in TTIs; (ii) provide green technology equipment for the delivery of existing and new courses in the TTIs; (iii) assist the government in rebranding TVET courses to attract more youth and modernizing teaching and training pedagogy; (iv) strengthen private sector engagement in the delivery of courses that are in demand in the market; and (v) demonstrate good practices in integrating TVET and career guidance in school education. The grant supports the inclusive economic growth pillar of ADB's country partnership strategy, 20142018 and is fully aligned with the government's Twelfth Five-Year Plan. ADB support is crucial to augment the financial and technical capacity of the government to implement the TVET Blueprint. ADB will enable a knowledge sharing forum to bring together key agencies such as Helvetas, the World Bank, the government of Australia, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency to synergize support for TVET, labor market analysis, and capacity development.

Impact

Skilled human capital for equitable socioeconomic development increased

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Employability of TVET graduates and secondary school graduates improved

Progress Toward Outcome COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the civil construction, supply of goods and delivery of trainings by private firms.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Access to skills development increased

Quality and relevance of skills development enhanced

Vocational orientation of secondary school students improved

Governance and institutional capacity for TVET improved

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Discussions on the reports of the courses developed through TA under progress for full curriculum development.

TTI-Samthang infrastructure expansion under progress(70% completed)

TTI-Thimphu contract agreement signed and 13% of work completed. PMU has procured two training vehicles at TTI Thimphu, Samthang and Rangjung for better hands-on training. G-01 contracts are signed, the new laboratory equipment and IT equipment are in the delivering stage to all respective 5 TTIs for better infrastructure facilities.G-03- procurement of automobile lab equipment for TTI (Thimphu, Rangjung and Samthang) contract awarded.

G-01 packages delivery Completed. EV training vehicles procured.

Health and safety standards be included in all trainings in TTI and TVET premier schools.

Procurement of equipment under process. Implementation of teaching and learning through use of multi-media materials is discussed with international experts recruited under ADB technical assistance.

Various online course through Udemy for Government, Coursera, Labtech are undergoing

Trainers/Instructors capacity building programs as planned could not happen due to COVID travel restrictions. However, online trainings on labtech and Udmey were facilitated through the ADB TA support. 104 instructors participated in these online trainings. Instructors expressed that it is not as effective as face to face training.

483 youths trained till date through partnership with private training providers and Royal Institute of Tourism and Hospitality. Critical Skills Training for 11 courses through private training providers started from December 2019. Critical skills training for persons with disabilities completed for 45 trainees.

348 students enrolled in TVE (classes IX and X) -142 female and 206 male. However, training could not commence due to delays in workshop construction, procurement of equipment and with COVID19. Theoretical classes started after lockdown in September 2021.

Vocational Clubs and PVOP guidelines developed in consultation with the school teachers & club coordinators.

13 junior instructors are recruited and trained in pedagogy and completed industrial attachment. They are placed in the 7 TVET premier school to start implementing the TVET electives (9 trades).

Workshop construction is completed.

MOE started TVET elective course at 7 TVET Premier Schools in 2020. The number of students at first batch intake (current grade 10 students) is 164 (including 55 females) and second batch intake (current grade 9 students) is 197 (87 females). It is on-track to exceed 400 target student beneficiaries by 2023. However, while workshop construction for hands-on training (W-04 to W-07) was completed in all TVET Premier Schools, procurement of goods and equipment (G-05 packages) was delayed because of the COVID-19 lockdowns. However, contract signing of G-05 is completed.

Work on career guidance is under progress with international experts advising the PIU. The Centre for Employment Initiatives in UK (CS-10b) finished producing revised career guidance materials and conducted virtual training for master trainers. MOE will train career counsellors and career guidance support using revised materials will start from August 2021 benefiting more than 90,000 middle and higher secondary school students (more than 50% female) every year so that 30,000 target students will be met by 2023. 110 councilors from 110 secondary schools trained in career guidance

Various online course through Udemy for Government, Coursera, Labtech are undergoing. 175 desktop computers supplied and installed in all 7 TVE schools through G-01 package.

On 29 June 2021, MOLHR signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ITE Educational Service (ITEES) in Singapore to support advanced automobile repair course (diploma) at TTI Thimphu and facility technology course (diploma) at TTI Khuruthang. ITEES will support new curriculum development while ADB will support procurement of goods and equipment to implement new curriculum. ADB also took note that Humber College in Canada was interested in partnering with TTI Rangjung and TAFE in Australia interested in partnering with TTI Chumey.

Selected IT firm is working on system development. Out of the two phases, the IT firm has completed the first phase of TVET MIS. The second phase has also started with the series of consultation to finalize the software requirement specification (SRS). The firm will then bring necessary improvements in Labor market information system (LMIS, MIS, Job portal, labor net)

Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects Requisite due diligence will help to put in place mitigating measures with regard to social and environmental safeguards, while also contributing to the growth of the economy.
Involuntary Resettlement The project entails no land acquisition or resettlement. Improvements to buildings and facilities will take place within existing campus/premises. Hence social safeguards is categorized as C.
Indigenous Peoples Bhutan does not have any officially defined Indigenous peoples'. The project's inclusive lens will ensure that poor and vulnerable students from different parts of the country will have access to skills development and training. Hence IP categorization is C.
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design The main stakeholders who participated in the design and implementation of the project included the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources and Ministry of Education and various entities of the government engaged in TVET and Education policy and strategy and implementation. The private sector - industry and employers - are crucial stakeholders who will contribute to making the TVET system more responsive and credible to the market. Extensive consultation and stakeholder workshops have been held for the preparation of the TVET Blueprint. A consultative approach will be continued during project design and implementation. There are no negatively affected people expected under the project. The project will incorporate affirmative action for the benefit of girls, women and the disadvantaged. Consultations with CSOs and their partnership during implementation will be facilitated.
During Project Implementation Consultations with key stakeholders are undertaken. Example: Discussion with Royal Education Council (integration of ICT with TVET related subjects), TTI Thimphu, TTI Rangjung and TTI Thimphu on development of new courses. Discussions with Baylling Central School and Rangjung Central School.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services An estimated 172 person-months (32 international and 140 national) of consulting services will be required to (i) facilitate project management and implementation, (ii) strengthen the institutional and operational capacity of the executing agencies and select implementing agencies, (iii) development of web-based MIS and employment portal, and (iv) conduct monitoring and evaluation studies.
Procurement Procurement (including consulting services) will follow ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time); and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time). Open Competitive Bidding (International Advertising) procedures will be used for any civil works contract estimated to cost more than $3 million, and any goods contract estimated to cost more than $1 million. Open Competitive Bidding (National Advertising) procedures may be used for any civil works contract estimated to cost $3 million or less and any goods contract estimated to cost $1 million or less. Request for quotations may be used for any civil works or goods contract estimated to cost below $100,000.
Responsible ADB Officer Tshering, Nidup
Responsible ADB Department South Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Bhutan Resident Mission (BHRM)
Executing Agencies
Department of Macroeconomic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Education & Skills Development
Ministry of Education and Skills Development
Ministry of Labour and Human Resources
Timetable
Concept Clearance 07 Dec 2017
Fact Finding 11 Apr 2018 to 20 Apr 2018
MRM 21 Jun 2018
Approval 30 Aug 2018
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 12 Dec 2022

Grant 0596-BHU

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
30 Aug 2018 29 Nov 2018 11 Jan 2019 30 Apr 2024 - -
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 18.00 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 15.00 26 Jul 2023 12.26 0.00 82%
Counterpart 3.00 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 26 Jul 2023 11.53 0.00 77%

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Feb 2023
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (July 2021-June 2022) Audited Project Financial Statements Dec 2022
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (July 2020-June 2021) Audited Project Financial Statements Nov 2021
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (July 2019-June 2020) Audited Project Financial Statements Mar 2021
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Audited Project Financial Statements (July 2018-June 2019) Audited Project Financial Statements Dec 2019
Grant Agreement (Special Operations) for Grant 0596-BHU: Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project Grant Agreement Nov 2018
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Report and Recommendation of the President Reports and Recommendations of the President Aug 2018
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Social and Gender Action Plan Gender Action Plans Aug 2018
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Project Administration Manual Project/Program Administration Manual Aug 2018
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Project Data Sheet (Dzongkha Translation) Translated PDS Dec 2017
Skills Development Project: Initial Poverty and Social Analysis Initial Poverty and Social Analysis Dec 2017

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2023) Environmental Monitoring Reports Aug 2023
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (July-December 2022) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jan 2023
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2022) Environmental Monitoring Reports Oct 2022
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (July-December 2021) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jun 2022
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2021) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jan 2022
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (July-December 2020) Environmental Monitoring Reports Mar 2021
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2020) Environmental Monitoring Reports Nov 2020
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (July-December 2019) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jun 2020
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Environmental Monitoring Report (January-June 2019) Environmental Monitoring Reports Jun 2020
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Updated Initial Environmental Examination Initial Environmental Examination May 2019
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Initial Environmental Examination Initial Environmental Examination Jun 2018

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
National Expert Pool for PMU, STEPUP(Electrical Engineer) Individual - Consulting Closed
Detailed Architectural Drawings and Engineering Design and Drawings for the Rural Development Training Centre (RDTC), Zhemgang Firm - Consulting Closed
Detailed Architectural Drawings and Engineering Design and Drawings for Technical Training Institute, Rangjung Firm - Consulting Closed
National Expert Pool for PMU, STEPUP (Civil Engineer) Individual - Consulting Closed
Site Supervision Engineer Individual - Consulting Closed
Site Supervision Engineer Individual - Consulting Closed
Detailed Architectural Drawings and Engineering Design and Drawings for the Technical Training Institute- Samthang, Wangdue Phodrang Firm - Consulting Closed
Regional and International linkages for TTIs Individual - Consulting Closed
Regional and International linkages for TTIs Individual - Consulting Closed
Gender Expert (National) Individual - Consulting Closed
Detailed Architectural Drawings and Engineering Designs and Drawings for TTI Chumey Firm - Consulting Closed
Gender Expert (National) Individual - Consulting Closed
Monitoring and Evaluation Expert (National) Individual - Consulting Closed
Consultancy assignment on feasibility study for establishment of digital parks Individual - Consulting Closed
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project Individual - Consulting Closed
Project Coordinator (National) Individual - Consulting Closed
Procurement Expert (National) for PMU Individual - Consulting Closed
International Expert for Career Guidance implementation Firm - Consulting Closed
Strengthening of MOLHR MIS Firm - Consulting Closed
National Expert for MOLHR PMU: Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
National Expert Pool for PMU: Gender Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
National Expert Pool for TVET electives Development Individual - Consulting Closed
National Expert Pool for PMU Individual - Consulting Closed
Skills Development Project Firm - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE THIMP HU SERBITHANG BABESA (W-02) Grant 0596 27 Feb 2020 JV OF EW CONSTRUCTION PVT. LTD. & JM BUILDERS | THIMPHU BHUTAN Ministry of Labour and Human Resources 1,208,726.80
CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE THIMP HU SERBITHANG BABESA (W-01) Grant 0596 27 Feb 2020 PENJOR CONSTRUCTION PVT. LTD | THIMPHU BHUTAN Ministry of Labour and Human Resources 1,274,313.71
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT FOR CAREER GUIDANCE CONSULTAN T (PACKAGE CS-10B) Grant 0596 10 Jan 2020 THE CENTRE FOR EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES | BRIDGE STREET LLANGOLLEN UNITED KINGDOM Ministry of Labour and Human Resources 124,346.95
STRENGTHENING OF MOLHR MIS CONSULTANT (PACKAGE CS- 08) Grant 0596 21 Jan 2020 SONAX IT CONSULTANCY | THIMPHU BHUTAN Ministry of Labour and Human Resources 211,449.78
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF TTI THIMPU AND ADD'T INFRASTRUCTURE AT TT Grant 0596 05 Apr 2019 UMAR MUNSHI ASSOCIATES JV PROGRESSIVE RCS | KARACHI PAKISTAN Ministry of Labour and Human Resources 419,993.71

Procurement Plan

Title Document Type Document Date
Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project: Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Feb 2023