𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐔 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Special Olympics Bhutan today during the opening ceremony of the First National Unified Champion Schools (UCS) Competition which is being held in Thimphu from December 21-23.The MoU was signed by the Ministry’s Dasho Secretary and the President of Special Olympics Bhutan. The signing marks a significant milestone in strengthening inclusive education and expanding access to inclusive sports for students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It establishes a long-term collaboration to expand UCS programs across schools, enhance personnel capacity and deepen a culture of inclusion in alignment with the Ministry’s inclusive education policy.In addition, the MoU provides a foundation for the Ministry’s alignment with the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion, a global partnership that supports governments and stakeholders in translating inclusive education policies into practical, sustainable action through programs such as Unified Champion Schools and Unified Sports.Under Bhutan’s Education Policy, the Ministry recognises Sports and Physical Activities (SPA) as an integral part of holistic education. The introduction of UCS programs will complement and strengthen SPA by providing structured, inclusive opportunities that promote healthy lifestyles, teamwork, social integration, mutual respect and active participation among all students.