Educare Skills, Bhutan’s pioneering online learning platform, is preparing to expand its services to offer STEM-focused educational content by next year. The initiative, led by iBEST Company, aims to provide students with high-quality lessons in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through an engaging digital platform.
Tharchen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Educare Skills, announced that the iBEST team is currently developing the STEM platform, building on the success of their existing educational offerings.
“With the widespread success of our platform—used by students, teachers, and parents across all 20 districts—we are now working to introduce dedicated content for STEM subjects,” said Tharchen. “We recognize the growing importance of STEM education in Bhutan’s development and aim to launch this platform by next year.”
Currently, Educare Skills focuses on promoting Dzongkha, the national language, especially among young learners. The platform features a rich collection of child-friendly educational content, including animated series, read-aloud videos, nursery rhymes, interactive games, exam-focused lessons, and Dzongkha tutorials—all aligned with the national curriculum and presented in the national language.
“Drawing from our extensive work with children’s educational content and collaborations with key stakeholders, the iBEST team was inspired to launch the Educare Skills initiative,” Tharchen said.
Parents and educators have welcomed the platform. Kezang Choden, a parent, shared that the platform is user-friendly and offers valuable learning materials for her children. Another parent, Karma Sangay, noted that the platform has greatly helped her children improve their Dzongkha language skills.
Sonam Tobgay, a teacher at Gaeddu Higher Secondary School, praised the platform for supporting classroom learning. “It helps students improve their reading skills and prepares them well for exams,” he said.
The journey of Educare Skills began in 2018, when iBEST first conceptualized the idea of an online learning platform. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the project, with the team partnering closely with the former Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) to produce over 300 e-learning video lessons. These were aired on BBS TV and shared widely on social media for the benefit of students nationwide.
Following several rounds of consultations with teachers, parents, youth, and professionals, content production and technology development officially began in 2021. The result is a homegrown digital learning solution—truly a “Made in Bhutan” initiative—with over 150 young Bhutanese professionals contributing to its development.
The Educare Skills platform was officially launched on February 21, 2024, coinciding with the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The King. It is now accessible both as a website and a mobile app.
With the upcoming expansion into STEM education, Educare Skills is poised to become one of the most dynamic and comprehensive learning platforms in Bhutan and beyond.
Sherab Dorji from Thimphu
