TVET students learn welding and electrical skills as electives
Yangyel Lhaden
Punakha—August 28. As the clock strikes 10:40 a.m, the workshop at Khuruthang Middle Secondary School (KMSS) comes alive. Amid a sea of school uniforms, a distinct group of Class X students in blue technical and vocational education and training (TVET) attire move purposefully towards their stations. Today, they are diving into the world of welding.
Tucked away on the edge of the school, the workshop hums with life. The rhythmic clang of metal, the hiss of cutting tools, and the focused murmur of students mastering their skills create a symphony of industry and learning.
The noise, though constant, feels right here, purposeful.
This workshop, alongside the electrical one, is part of a pilot TVET school, one of just seven in the country.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), these TVET schools are designed to provide crucial infrastructure and tools through the skills training and education pathways upgradation project ( STEPUP), and most importantly, the transformative opportunity to shape their futures with their own hands.
In the workshop, the TVET instructor greets her students with a nod. And they quickly recapitulate what they learnt the previous day before beginning today’s lesson—crafting a lap joint with a T joint.
Of the 25 students who started TVET in 2020, only six continued through to Class XII
“Cut three metal pieces, each 100 millimeters,” she instructs, her voice unwavering. “Alright, get to work!”
And she pauses, creating a dramatic silence, before saying, “But what do we remember first?”
Without missing a beat, the students reply in unison, “Safety first!”
Among the 12 welding students, Anisha Subba is the lone girl. “Theory classes put me to sleep,” she admits with a grin. “But here, with the tools in my hands, I stay wide awake.”
She laughs without inhibition, her laughter fading into the clanging of metals.
There are 17 students in welding in class IX, 11 students and 19 students in welding and electrical in class IX and X respectively.
Principal Haki Wangmo says that students are eager to join TVET programmes because they gain practical skills, supported by the solid infrastructure and equipment— all funded by ADB.
Yet, concerns linger.
“Who will ensure this support continues?” she asks, highlighting the challenge of maintaining long-term commitment to the programme.
Short-term contracts for TVET teachers pose another challenge. “Teachers often leave for better opportunities,” she explains.
And this turnover disrupts the learning process and hinders student progress.
Meanwhile, in the neighbouring Punakha Central School (PCS), another TVET pilot school, electrical students are already putting their skills to use by fixing appliances for the school staff.
The PCS offers TVET programmes from grades IX through XII, focusing on electrical and welding training.
PCS Principal Sherab Tshering shares similar concerns.
Of the initial 25 students who started TVET in 2020, only six continued through to Class XII.
The tangible outcomes of the programme are visible in and around PCS campus—several benches made by TVET welding students. They also fix electrical appliances of school staff.
A class 10 TVET student in electrical at PCS, Sonam Choden, chose the elective to prepare for Class XI physics studies. “My brother took electrical, and watching him fix home appliances inspired me,” she says. “The practical TVET classes let me learn more to prepare for class XI.”
Another Class X student in TVET electrical, Thinley Dorji, hopes these skills will lead to future employment. “Plus, it is fun and interesting,” he says, though his mother doesn’t always agree with him. “She doesn’t allow me to fix appliances, but once, when a switch broke at home, I fixed it quickly while she was away. She was proud.”
Back in the bustling KMSS workshop, students like Anisha Subba continue to refine their skills and chase their dreams. Despite the challenges, TVET programmes offer a bright promise for their future.