With over 600 of them still looking for jobs, the number of unemployed engineer graduates in the country is overwhelmingly huge. But with the government’s recent revision of evaluation parameters for large and medium contractors to procure work, it seems their days of struggle are finally over. About 300 selected graduates will undergo Employability Skills training after which they will be certified. And for the contractors to participate in procurement, the employment of certified engineers will be a mandatory criterion. The first batch of the 10-day training began today.
The revision of evaluation criteria is for works worth more than Nu 5 M. And for a contractor to win any work, a trained and certified graduate remains an indispensable asset to the firms undertaking such works.
During the 10-day training, they will learn four modules. The training would focus on the Process of Electronic Government Procurement, Process of Construction Manager Software, Requirements of Occupational Health and Safety, and Awareness of Construction Industry Rules and Regulations.
According to the Director of the Construction Development Board (CDB), Karma Sonam, the certified graduates will be worth 10 points.
For a contractor to win a tender, he or she must score a minimum of 70 out of 100 points. The new criteria as per the director will guarantee any contractor 10 points, thereby increasing the chance of getting the contracts.
According to the director, most private firms refuse to employ fresh graduates because they lack real-world experience.
“However, somebody has to come up with some plans so that their employability increases and that’s what we did, he said.
Meanwhile, the trainees will have to score a minimum of 50 per cent to become trained engineers. They will be assessed through written tests and assignments.
Suppose a trainee fails to score the minimum pass percentage, he or she won’t be allowed to sit for the next training until the entire cohort of unemployed graduates is trained.
The training is being organized in Thimphu, Monggar, and Gelephu.
Tshering Dendup
Edited by Chayku
