To assure that the courses offered meet the quality standards set forth by the ministry, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) is in the process of evaluating and accrediting certificate and diploma courses offered by various institutions in the country. The ministry has already completed accrediting the courses offered by government vocational institutes.
The team from the department of occupational standards of the labour ministry is currently assessing certificate and diploma courses offered by two private institutions in Phuentsholing. They evaluate course curriculum and training delivery documents of the institutions.
After evaluation, if the courses of the institute meet the ministry’s quality standards, the course will be formally recognized by the ministry with issuance of national certificates for the courses.
“We are emphasising on the quality of the institute because though it is a commercial private sector, we consider it as different from other business because they are building human resource of the country, said Tandin Dorji, from the Department of Occupational Standards under MoLHR.
Such accreditation will help the ministry keep close watch over the effectiveness of education and trainings provided by various Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutes in the country.
Course recognition by the ministry will also benefit the trainees as they will be issued national certificates.
The Program Officer of Department of Occupational Standards, Rigden Wangchuk, said if the courses get accredited, it will be nationally recognized in terms fo quality, accountability and public trust. “The value of the certificate will be higher as compared to the certificates issued by the respective institutes.”
Officials from labour ministry said once the courses are accredited, the institutions could use it as a marketing tool to increase enrolment of trainees.
However, for private vocational institutions, course accreditation remains optional. So far, only two private institutions from Phuentsholing have applied for it.