The Bhutanese Leading the way.
To further enhance STEM education across Bhutan, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has recruited an additional 15 foreign STEM teachers, who are expected to be deployed within this month, if possible.
This recruitment is part of MoESD’s ongoing effort to address the shortage of qualified STEM teachers in public schools. The new teachers will be sent to schools where there are still gaps in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teaching staff.
During the 33rd Session of Parliament, Education Minister, Yeezang De Thapa, had addressed the teacher shortage issue, noting that the gap would be filled by recruiting foreign teachers, primarily from India.
Lyonpo highlighted that 100 teachers would be hired, with 35 teachers for Mathematics, 18 for Physics, 19 for Chemistry, and 28 ICT. This recruitment strategy is a key component of MoESD’s efforts to ensure that every public school has the necessary STEM faculty to meet academic needs.
Last year, the ministry initiated this strategy by recruiting 52 foreign STEM teachers. Out of these, 30 accepted the positions, and 23 were deployed to public schools in 2024. However, some teachers withdrew after reviewing the terms and conditions of their contracts, and a few others due to personal reasons, despite a thorough selection process. As a result, MoESD had to continue its recruitment efforts in 2025.
Among the 20 dzongkhags, Samtse received the highest number of foreign STEM teachers, reflecting the specific needs identified in each region. The ministry had also previously announced that any remaining teacher shortages would be addressed through local recruitment from the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) program. These graduates are expected to join the teaching workforce starting in the next academic year.
MoESD has confirmed that all foreign teachers are hired on two-year contracts. The selection process is based on the candidates’ professional experience and academic qualifications, requiring at least a Bachelor’s degree in Education (B.Ed) or a Master’s degree. The teachers will be compensated at the P3-level salary, with 50 percent of their salaries funded by the Indian government.
Last year, some of the foreign teachers were scheduled to report in late November, but MoESD advised them to defer their joining until the beginning of the new academic session. This decision was made because, by late November, most school syllables are typically nearing completion. The ministry emphasized that this would help avoid disrupting the ongoing academic year.
The 15 newly recruited teachers will be deployed to schools with the most urgent need for qualified STEM educators. MoESD is working to ensure that they arrive in time for the early part of the academic session, allowing them to integrate smoothly into the school system.
This timely deployment will ensure that students across the country will benefit from the presence of qualified STEM instructors, particularly in areas with a high demand for teachers in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
The recruitment of foreign STEM teachers has been met with positive feedback, especially from schools that were struggling to find qualified instructors in key subjects.
While these foreign teachers will provide immediate relief, the ministry has made it clear that local recruitment will be the ultimate solution for addressing the teacher shortage in the long run.
As of now, the remaining foreign STEM teachers for the upcoming academic year have not been fully confirmed, as MoESD is still in the process of finalizing these appointments. Specific details regarding their arrival and deployment are still to be determined.
With these 15 new teachers expected to join this month, it is expected to play a key role in ensuring that all public schools have the necessary staff to provide high-quality education in essential STEM subjects.
