National Graduates Orientation 2009- anything new?

This year National Graduates Orientation Program is scheduled to take place from September 8 – 19, 2009 at Nazhoen Pelri Youth Development Centre. In fact the process starts much earlier. Verification of academic transcripts will commence from August 24 according to the press released from MoLHR. Graduates are required to bring in their original academic certificates. And they are to attend a briefing session September 7 morning.

The orientation is aimed to acquaint Bhutanese graduates (undergraduates) with our rich cultural heritage, government policies, laws, issues, to create awareness. It would be a time for the participants to interact and share ideas and concerns with other fellow mates. On the whole, time to reorient (if studied outside) with our rich culture and traditions.

I hope they put up a tsechu on the program. That could be a wonderful time for graduates to really see what happens at a tsechu very closely and with purpose. Talking about tsechu I always thought our mask dances were sacred and only performed during holy occasions, but there are mask dances performed for tourists these days. So, if you have no time to watch Thimphu tsechu live, join a group of tourist and watch it being performed by RAPA or Khuju Luyang. By the way, that’s none of my business. It is their business . But our graduates need to be taught to appreciate our traditions. Don't teach facts, teach them some values that could sustain throughout their lives.

According to some sources, this year more than 1800 graduates have registered. Now that is both good and bad news for Bhutan. Good because now more and more Bhutanese parents are sending their children to colleges abroad. That’s a sign that Bhutan is progressing. That’s a sign that now people can afford to give their sons and daughters good education. That’s a forecast of Bhutan’s future literacy. That’s a sign we are moving up by a few rungs on the GNH ladder.

Now why is it bad? Because media has given us enough hints about the unemployment issues in the country. We could be adding 1800 more people in the job market, and who would not be happy if the government gives jobs to all these job seekers. But if not, we would be simply adding a few hundreds to the streets and a proportionate number to drug issues and criminal activities. Our Government is helpless like any other governments in the face of such issues.

Competition is not an excuse. Neither is already clogged job market or lack of skill. If you cannot give them jobs, give them hope and don’t let their aspirations crumple. Telling them you care does not mean anything. Show how you care them through actions. It is a nightmare being jobless.

Happy Orientation to all my friends. Rather reorientation! Go watch some live tsechus!

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