𝐑𝐔𝐁 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞

… 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑬𝑪𝑪𝑫 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

By Yeshi Dolma

The Royal University has launched a two-year pre-service Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), a significant step toward building a professional workforce to support the nation’s youngest learners. The first cohort of graduates is expected by mid-2027, marking a key milestone in formalising early childhood education and strengthening human capital.

ECCD has become a national priority as the country works to improve learning outcomes and ensure every child receives a strong foundation for lifelong development. Despite the approval of ECCD facilitator positions at the S5 level in 2018, these posts have remained contractual, raising concerns about career pathways for trained personnel and the risk of educated unemployment.

Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa, Minister of Education and Skills Development, addressed these concerns, explaining the rationale behind the contractual positions. She said, “The ECCD facilitator position was initially approved at the S5 level on a contractual basis, reflecting the situation when facilitators did not yet have professional ECCD qualifications.
This modality ensured continuity of service while the ECCD system and professional pathways were being developed.”

Since that time, the ECCD landscape has evolved considerably. Recognising the growing availability of qualified personnel, the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) approved a higher S2 level position with contractual terms aligned with civil service standards, including promotion, transfer, training, and leave entitlements. The minimum qualification for these positions has been raised to a Diploma in ECCD, ensuring that new recruits meet professional standards expected for early childhood education.

Lyonpo De Thapa highlighted that in-service facilitators are also being supported to bridge the qualification gap. She explained, “In-service facilitators who did not previously hold formal ECCD qualifications are being upgraded through part-time diploma programmes. This ensures that children continue to receive quality care while recognising and developing the skills of our existing workforce.”

At present, 308 in-service facilitators are enrolled in the part-time ECCD Diploma programme offered by Paro College of Education, with an additional 100 facilitators expected to join in December 2026. Around 220 facilitators have already completed the diploma and will be upgraded to the S2 level, reflecting their professional growth and commitment to child development services.

The introduction of the pre-service diploma programme ensures that newly recruited facilitators are professionally trained from the outset. By aligning recruitment with formal qualifications, the programme reduces the risk of educated unemployment and strengthens the overall quality of early childhood education in the nation.

Looking to the future, the ministry has also planned a part-time Bachelor of ECCD programme to further strengthen leadership and pedagogical capacity. This programme is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and will enrol 90 diploma holders over the next three years. Lyonpo De Thapa explained, “Internationally, a Diploma in ECCD is the minimum qualification for facilitators, with a Bachelor’s degree considered for advanced roles. We are aligning our workforce development to meet these global standards.”

The phased approach adopted by the ministry and RCSC balances immediate service needs with long-term workforce planning. By linking recruitment, upgrading, and regularisation with the availability of qualified personnel, the nation ensures that ECCD facilitators are formally recognised while maintaining continuity of service. This strategy also safeguards children’s access to trained facilitators, ensuring consistent quality of care and early learning outcomes.

Lyonpo De Thapa emphasised the broader purpose of the initiative, “By taking a phased approach, we are not only creating employment pathways for our trained graduates but also maintaining continuity in service delivery. This dual focus is essential to meet national priorities in child development.”

The pre-service diploma programme, alongside the upgrading of in-service facilitators, also highlights the nation’s commitment to equity and inclusivity. Facilitators who have been serving without formal qualifications are given opportunities to gain recognised credentials, while newly trained graduates enter the workforce with professional training. This approach strengthens the overall ECCD system, ensuring that children in both urban and rural areas receive care from qualified personnel.

With the first cohort of diploma graduates set to join the workforce in 2027, the nation stands at a turning point in its early childhood education landscape. Structured recruitment, systematic upgrading, and future-focused professional development initiatives are expected to position ECCD facilitators as pivotal contributors to the country’s human capital. These measures are designed not only to provide skilled early childhood care but also to ensure long-term sustainability of the ECCD system, with trained personnel capable of supporting the learning and development of future generations.