The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has confirmed that the much-anticipated National Teaching Service (NTS) has not yet been implemented, as it is currently under active development in consultation with the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC).
The NTS, which was announced during last year’s Meet-the-Press session, is envisioned as a competency-based framework aimed at professionalizing the teaching service. It seeks to improve recruitment, professional development, and career progression, all while operating within the existing Bhutan Civil Service Rules and Regulations (BCSR) 2023.
While the NTS promises greater flexibility in managing the teaching workforce, MoESD clarified that entry into the civil service through this framework would still uphold merit-based principles.
“A pathway for contract teachers to transition into the NTS has been proposed while upholding the merit-based principles of the civil service. However, this should not be misconstrued as automatic entry into the civil service. For those aspiring to join the civil service, the Bhutan Civil Service Examination (BCSE) remains the standard route. There are no shortcuts,” the Education Minister, Yeezang De Thapa said.
Although the NTS is yet to be finalized, MoESD is optimistic about completing the framework soon and initiating a phased implementation within this year.
The NTS is also expected to address long-standing concerns such as teacher shortages and the limited professional pathways available for contract teachers. However, the Education Minister noted that full benefits of the system will become evident only after its complete rollout.
