The Youth Development Fund and National Institute of Information Technology, NIIT, India jointly launched YDF-NIIT Scholarship Programme and also inaugurated the Playground Learning Station at the Nazhoen Pelri Youth Development Centre, Thimphu, today.
The year-long diploma course will be awarded to four youth annually for a period of three years at one of its education centres in Kolkata, India. The programme is aimed to empower youth interested in pursuing a career in IT. Meanwhile, the President of YDF, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Tshering Pem Wangchuck also inaugurated the playing ground learning station. The learning station commonly known as, ‘HIWEL-hole in the wall’ has been installed at the Centre through the support of NIIT. The two computers are expected to help youth by providing education and entertainment. It contains learning materials from class I to X and covers subjects such as mathematics, english, science, social science, Dzongkha, life skills and computer literacy.
Her Majesty also presented certificates of appreciation to Chairman of NIIT and the Organisation for their valuable efforts in ‘enabling and empowering’ the youth of Bhutan under the Chiphen Rigpel project.
Addressing the gathering, the Programme Manager of the Nazhoen Pelri Rehab Centre, Tenzin Wangchuk, said establishment of IT learning skills training facilities has immensely benefitted the clients. “I am happy to report that our joint effort saw 338 people who benefited at the treatment and rehabilitation centre in Serbithang, 409 at the Thimphu drop-in centre and 507 at the Bumthang drop-in centre. Furthermore, with the help of NIIT, we were able to place some of our unemployed youth in IT related jobs.”
He also said that, through the HIWEL station, many vulnerable youth will have an opportunity to gain creative learning.
