Agency: Bhutan is preparing to transform its education system to meet growing domestic demand and attract students from abroad, according to the Industrial Development Roadmap 2025 from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE).
The roadmap sets ambitious goals to expand college capacity, encourage private and international institutions, and develop specialized programs in science, technology, creative arts, sports, and vocational education.
It emphasizes education as a key pillar of economic growth, innovation, and social development.
According to MoICE, currently, less than half of Bhutan’s Class 12 graduates can secure admission into domestic colleges and universities.
An investigation by The Bhutanese found that only about 20% of students under government scholarships and 15% of self-financed students are absorbed into Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) colleges, making the total domestic absorption just 35%.
Many students are therefore forced to study abroad or pursue alternative pathways such as technical, vocational, or skill-based programs.
The Industrial Development Roadmap 2025 seeks to address this challenge by ensuring that at least 90% of high school graduates are absorbed into domestic higher education institutions. While the National Education Policy 2025 encourages 40% of grade XII students to pursue higher education, the remaining 60% will explore technical and vocational pathways. This gap presents a major opportunity for private institutions to grow and provide programs that meet student aspirations and labor market needs.