If you are confused about choosing your career, the Labour Market Information and Career Guidance Division under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment might come in handy. Established over a year ago, the division provides labour market data such as job vacancies and academic requirements to help individuals make informed career choices and decisions.
As the country develops and explores ways to meet the demands of the 21st century, the Labour Market Information and Career Guidance Division says it has become increasingly important to align career paths with these evolving needs.
Students also said there is a need for greater support in career guidance.
‘‘I think this is very important because during our teenage years, everybody is confused and they are all having a hard time choosing a career path. I think that a little more support will be helpful. And I think that this will lead to children and students being able to be more sure about the career paths to choose. So I think a little more help can go a long way,’’ said Tenzin Arissa Yoetsel, a student at Changangkha MSS, Thimphu.
‘‘It is very important nowadays because as youths are somewhat led astray by social media and all these foreign influences, I think it is ever more important for career guidance to be strictly and properly implemented in our schools,’’ said Pema Kelden Dorji, a student at Yangchenphug HSS, Thimphu.
‘‘It is like a turning point for us, if we are given the right guidance, we can make the right choices regarding our potential. And from what I have observed, my seniors, or we could say, brothers and sisters, were not given the right guidance since we do not have much exposure. And they end up choosing the wrong career and end up regretting their decisions,’’ said Lekzin Tsheyang Dolkar, a student at Yangchenphug HSS, Thimphu.
Meanwhile, school counsellors conduct weekly career guidance classes for students in grades seven to ten.
According to the Career Education and Counselling Division, school counsellors provide students with a range of prescribed activities, including syllabi, toolkits, handbooks, and workbooks, to help them prepare for their career pathways.
Recognising the importance of career guidance as highlighted in the National Organisational Development Report 2019, the division was established to provide these services.
“Currently the division works towards improving the career guidance ecosystem through two critical focuses. The first one is enhancing the labour market information in general. The labour market information bulletin provides a comprehensive situation of what is the labour market like and this can be used by anyone who wants to get to know the labour market in general,” said Tshering Yangki, assistant programme officer at Labour Market Information and Career Guidance Division, MoICE.
She added that the division offers career guidance through innovative sessions and forums like Gowa, helping youths and attendees capitalise on labour market opportunities.
The division, in collaboration with various agencies, publishes the Career and Occupation Dictionary, which describes occupations under the ten major groups of the Bhutan Standard Classification of Occupations.
The publication provides details on required academic qualifications, the occupational environment, and work prospects within the country. The division aims to make resources more accessible to youth.
‘‘So for the upcoming plans, we want to simplify the publications that are in place. The current publications that we have are very bulky, but we want to ensure that the resources that we have are also palatable for young kids because that’s where it all starts. We want to spark curiosity in young kids, so the simplified publication will help us do that, to spark curiosity about careers in the kids,’’ said Tshering Yangki, assistant programme officer at Labour Market Information and Career Guidance Division, MoICE.
The division plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to ensure its programmes and publications reach students in schools.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Kipchu
