To empower young minds to use their skills for a better tomorrow, the first-ever National Skills Competition was held in Sarpang’s Dekiling Gewog. The five-day event served as a platform for artisans and creative professionals to showcase their talents, preparing them for international competitions. It concluded yesterday coinciding with Zorig Day.
The competition followed the rules of WorldSkills Asia, which is a non-profit association of member states that aims to boost technical skills and vocational education in Asia. The participants were aged between 18 to 25 in accordance with the competition guidelines.
The Ministry of Education and Skills Development plans to send the competition winners to the World Skills Asia event. Bhutan joined World Skills Asia as a member country last year.
“Additionally, the ministry and the department are working towards joining the World Skills International. If we get the membership this year, beginning next year, we’ll compete in WorldSkills Asia and winners will get the chance to participate in the WorldSkills International,” said Karma Dorji, the operating committee chairman at the Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute, Dekiling Gewog.
The competition featured a range of skills such as furniture making, baking, painting and wood carving among others.
The participants displayed their final products at stalls for sale.
“It has always been emphasised that skills are important and our youths need to step up. That is true. With the right set of skills, if you can be good at it, we can not only compete at the local level but also the international level against other experts in these fields,” said Dorji Thongmey, a participant from the Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology.
“I won the national level competition. I want to prepare myself for future participation in international competitions,” said Bidya Rai, a participant from Yarkay Hotels.
The winners of each category received cash prizes ranging from Nu 50,000 to 100,000. They will also get a complimentary one-year student care policy from Bhutan Insurance Limited.
A total of 46 individuals from various fields participated in the completion.
The Sarpang Rabdey also conducted a cleansing ceremony for vehicles as a part of the Zorig Day celebration.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Sonam Pem
