July 30, 2025
THIMPHU – To address the country’s growing crisis of youth substance abuse, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) officially opened the nation’s first specialised school, Yarabling Higher Secondary School (YHSS) in Yonphula, Trashigang.
The school, which held its soft launch yesterday, is designed to serve as a transitional support centre. Unlike a regular school, it provides a structured and supportive environment where students can continue their academic education while undergoing guided recovery.
Principal of Yarabling Higher Secondary School, Yeshey Dorji said that while 63 students are listed for admission, the school expects between 55 and 60 to enrol in the coming months.
The school combines the national academic curriculum with specialised programmes focused on therapy, counseling, and life skills to provide a crucial lifeline for students battling addiction. Students who make meaningful progress will return to their original schools.
“If particular students successfully recover from substance abuse, they will be reintegrated into their previous schools,” Principal Yeshey Dorji said. “If they feel they are at risk of relapse, the school will fully support them to ensure they can continue their education without disruption.” He added that the ministry will also provide extensive support for mental health, behaviour changes, and academics.
The establishment of YHSS is part of the government’s broader strategy to focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
The school’s unique model combines the national academic curriculum with enhanced counseling, health programmes, and vocational training, all tailored to support student recovery.
The school will have two student intake phases, from February to July and from July to December, and students will be allowed to sit for their exams on campus.
YHSS has the capacity to accommodate 424 students from classes VII to XII. For its launch, the school will start with approximately 60 students and a staff of 30 teaching and non-teaching members.
Teachers and staff have undergone specialised training in Bhutan, India, and Thailand to equip them to work effectively with high-risk youth.
This initiative was expedited after a directive from the National Drug Task Force in April 2024.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted by MoESD Minister Yeezang Dee Thapa, who revealed in March that police had arrested 400 students for drug use, while school counselors had identified another 1,500 involved in substance abuse.
A National Council report presented in June further highlighted the scale of the crisis, stating that 3,678 individuals under the age of 24, which is over half of all drug arrests in the country were arrested for drug-related offences between 2023 and 2024.
The school’s campus, a former Kelki Higher Secondary School, was acquired by the government for Nu 160 million and has undergone major renovations.
It had previously been repurposed as a Covid-19 hospital, with the Ministry of Health investing nearly Nu 8 million to upgrade its facilities such as road, toilets, electrical fittings, and proper water supply.
Admissions and student placement at YHSS will be coordinated by The PEMA Secretariat, the Royal Bhutan Police, and the MoESD to ensure appropriate and sensitive case management.
However, cases requiring medical detoxification or intensive clinical intervention will continue to be referred to The PEMA Rehab Centre.
The launch was attended by the education minister Yeezang Dee Thapa, along with officials from the ministry and Trashigang Dzongkhag.