Bhutan Scouts Association

Scouting was introduced in Bhutan in 1970 but it was only in January 1996, His Majesty, the Fourth DrukGyalpo, while expressing concern on a number of issues on education, emphasized the need to adopt a systematic and Comprehensive Programme to address youth related issues. Emanating from this wisdom, and realizing the usefulness and potential of the Scout Programme for the all-round development of youth, the then the YGCD, under the Department of Education launched the School Based Scout Programme as one of the channels to promote as one of the channels to promote value education among the students. The programme achieved considerable progress both in terms of membership as well as the type of programmes conducted.

In the same year, consequently, on 26th July 1999, Bhutan Scouts Association (BSA) became a full-fledged member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) during the 35th World Scout conference at Durban, South Africa.

The Scouting programme in Bhutan is based in Four Section; Nachung Scouts (Cubs), Nazhoen Scouts (Scouts), Rovers and Community Based Scouts and today it has more than 40,000 members.

Mission

To contribute to the education of young people, through a value-based system based on the Scout Promise and Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled individuals, and play a constructive role in society.

Vision

Bhutan Scouts Association, by 2030, will be a leading youth organization that aligns with the national priorities and global goals to create patriotic, responsible and competent citizens contributing to achieving the Gross National Happiness aspiration.

Organogram

Program

UPSHIFT Digital Skills Training Package link

Training

coming soon

Strategic Priority Areas

Youth Program
Adult in Scouting
Resource Management
Communication and Partnership
Good Governance

SCOUTING IN BHUTAN: A Journey of Growth and Transformation.

Scouting in Bhutan began in the 1970s, but it took a more structured approach in 1996 following a Royal Command from His Majesty The Fourth King. His Majesty emphasized the need for a systematic and comprehensive strategy to address youth-related issues. In response, the Youth Guidance and Counselling Division, under the Department of Education, introduced the School-Based Scouting Program to promote value-based education among students.

A significant milestone was achieved on 26th July 1999, when the Bhutan Scouts Association (Druk Scout Tshogpa) became a full-fledged member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) during the 35th World Scout Conference in Durban, South Africa. Since then, under the patronage of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Scouting in Bhutan has evolved into one of the country’s most impactful youth development programs.

Currently, Scouting covers 92% of the student population, with five levels tailored to different age groups:

Cheychey Scout: Pre-primary to Grade III
Nachung Scout: Grades IV to VI
Nazhoen Scout: Grades VII to XII
Rovers: Colleges and Vocational Training Institutions

GROWTH AND KEY MILESTONES

Scouting in Bhutan has witnessed tremendous growth, with membership increasing from approximately 54,900 in 2018 to 140,123 in 2024. This expansion was driven by the Whole School Scouting Approach initiative, which integrated Scouting into school programs. The program gained momentum following a Royal Command in 2013, reaffirming its critical role in nurturing youth.

Key initiatives include:

Leadership Training for outstanding Scouts
University scholarships for exceptional Scouts
Scout Mobile Camps
Spiritual Retreat Camps

In recognition of this remarkable progress, the Bhutan Scouts Association was honored with the Highest Current Market Share Growth Award at the 43rd World Scout Conference in Egypt, August 2024.

SCOUTING AS A CORE CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has positioned Scouting as a core co-curricular activity in schools. This decision aims to address pressing psychosocial issues such as mental health challenges, bullying, and substance abuse.

Challenges Facing the Scouting Program

Despite its impressive growth, the program faces several challenges, including:

A limited number of trained Scout Adult Leaders
Increased teacher workloads, reducing time for extracurricular activities

Insufficient dedicated time allocation, affecting program quality and depth

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES & STRENGTHENING THE PROGRAM

To tackle these challenges, the Scout and Sports Division, under the Department of School Education Programme (MoESD), has introduced several measures:

Integration of Scouting as a core co-curricular activity within schools.

Nachung Leadership Training

Regional Nachung Scout Camps
Mobile Camps
International Exchange Programs with the global Scouting community

THE FUTURE OF SCOUTING: A SPECIALIZED & COMPULSORY PROGRAM

Starting 2025, Scouting will become a specialized and compulsory program for students in Classes 5, 7, and 9, each focusing on different developmental areas:

Class 5: Building values, character, and integrity
Class 7: Developing outdoor practical skills to address real-world challenges
Class 9: Emphasizing service and community contributions

The new program prioritizes physical fitness, mental resilience, and life skills as a means to ensure a smooth transition to Gyalsung. It prepares youth to be physically healthy and mentally sound, while also addressing key societal issues such as mental health concerns, bullying, and substance abuse.

UPSHIFT Digital Skills Training Package

The UPSHIFT Digital Skills Training Package is a nationally developed learning package designed to strengthen youth innovation and social entrepreneurship in Bhutan through the use of digital technologies. Developed by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, in partnership with UNICEF Bhutan and the European Union, the package supports the integration of essential digital skills into the UPSHIFT programme across schools, Youth Centers and Community Based Scout groups.

UPSHIFT, implemented nationwide since 2022, empowers young people to identify community challenges and design innovative and sustainable youth-led solutions. As the programme scaled rapidly, the need for a structured digital skills framework became clear. The Digital Skills Training Package responds to this need by embedding practical and appropriate digital competencies into every phase of the UPSHIFT methodology, from understanding problems and designing solutions to building prototypes, pitching ideas, and implementing sustainable projects. More than 143 teachers, Youth Center managers and Community Based Scout volunteers have been trained with the UPSHIFT digital skills training package till date.

The package focuses on 10 core digital skills organised under four key strands: Information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, and online safety and ethics. UPSHIFT participants learn to use widely accessible tools such as Google Workspace, Canva, CapCut, Figma, Tinkercad, and GenAI tools responsibly to research problems, collaborate in teams, create digital content, protect personal data, and present ideas effectively.

Delivered through a train-the-trainers model, the package is integrated into UPSHIFT orientations with flexibility for schools and youth centres to conduct additional hands-on sessions. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms at both national and school levels ensure quality implementation, continuous improvement, and measurable impact on youth digital literacy and 21st-century skills development. Furthermore, by strengthening digital literacy and practical technology use, UPSHIFT aligns with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s Digital Drive, ensuring youth are ready to participate effectively in Bhutan’s evolving digital economy and technology-enabled learning initiatives. UPSHIFT is now integrated in Specialized Scouting program for classes V, VII and IX students with inclusion of UPSHIFT proficiency badge for Scouts exhibiting entrepreneurial and social innovation skills.

The training package includes ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations for each UPSHIFT phase, with clear digital skills and tools mapped to the respective phase activities. These phase-wise PPTs serve as a practical facilitation guide for UPSHIFT focal teachers and Youth Centre Managers to confidently introduce digital tools alongside core UPSHIFT concepts, supporting consistent delivery, reducing preparation time, and ensuring that digital skills are meaningfully integrated in the UPSHIFT program.

The UPSHIFT digital skills training package is available on the Bhutan Scouts Association page.