Yangyel Lhaden

Although the only high school offering automobile course as part of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, Bajothang  Higher Secondary School (HSS) is struggling with low uptake of automobile training course. 

Less than eight percent of the total students are currently enrolled in the automobile course. 

The school administration attributes this to the lack of interest among students in the course and the absence of  infrastructure for practical classes. Consequently, students mostly focus on theoretical components, learning about parts of the automobile, without any hands-on experience.

Currently, there are no students enrolled in the automobile course for Class XI. Only five out of 72 students in Class XII have opted for it. In Class IX, 20 out of 181 students are enrolled while Class X has six students out of 92.

Among the 31 students in the TVET automobile course, only 12 are girls, with the majority in Classes IX and X opting for economics as their elective.

The school was selected to offer the automobile course due to its proximity to the Samthang Technical Training Institute (TTI), which provides practical training and technical support, according to an official from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD).

A teacher from Bajothang HSS said that it was challenging for the school to take students to Samthang TTI for practical lessons.  “Limited time due to the course being an elective, scheduling conflicts between Samthang TTI and the school, and transportation issues are some of the obstacles to taking students to Samthang TTI.”

Since the establishment of the TVET automobile course in 2020, the school has only taken students for a practical class at Samthang TTI once, in 2022.

The teacher said that having an automobile workshop equipped with a vehicle would significantly improve student enrollment by facilitating practical lessons. “In addition, enhancing instructor training and infrastructure would also make the programme more appealing and effective,” he added.

“Other TVET courses, such as electrical and welding, which are gaining popularity in other TVET schools, could also be introduced at this school, in addition to the automobile course, which has more resources,’” he said.

TVET school in  Bajothang HSS is one of seven pilot schools established in the country in 2020, with infrastructure funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

These schools are designed to provide essential infrastructure and tools through the Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project offering students the opportunity to shape their futures through hands-on skills training.

 An official from the MoESD said that funds for teaching and learning materials have been secured through the ADB funding. “Measures such as capacity building for instructors, procurement of equipment, and the review and updating of TVET courses to meet growing demand are already in place,’ the official said.