Bhutan’s Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Special Olympics Bhutan (SOB) on 21 December 2025. This marks a significant milestone in the MoESD’s commitment to expanding inclusive sports within its education system and strengthening inclusive education for students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in collaboration with SOB. This partnership reflects Bhutan’s growing leadership in advancing social inclusion through sport and education.
The announcement took place during the opening ceremony of the first SOB national competition among Unified Champion Schools® (UCS). UCS is a program that uses sports to build inclusive school climates by uniting students with and without IDD through Unified Sports, leadership development, and whole-school engagement.
Graced by Her Excellency Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa, Minister of Education and Skills Development, the ceremony launched three days of competition involving 271 students from 9 inclusive schools, participating in Athletics, Bocce, and Futsal. These events will be held under the Special Olympics Unified Sports model, where students with and without IDD compete in sport together.
The energy and enthusiasm displayed by students reflected the sentiment shared by Dasho Dechen Wangmo, President of Special Olympics Bhutan, “It is a defining moment for Bhutan, where our values and our national spirit of compassion guide us toward becoming a regional model for inclusion.” She added, “The wide support from government, civil society, and international partners reflects our shared belief that every individual deserves the chance to shine.”
This MOU outlined a long-term vision to expand UCS programming, deepen personnel capacity, and strengthen a culture of inclusion aligned with MoESD’s inclusive education policy.
Her Excellency, the Minister of Education and Skills Development, shared, “This partnership strengthens our commitment to creating enabling school environments where every child is able to participate meaningfully. We are taking an important step toward deeper regional and global initiatives grounded in shared learning and collective responsibility.”
This initiative is supported through strong collaboration among national and international partners, including MoESD, Bhutan Olympic Committee, Bhutan Paralympic Committee, SELWA, UNICEF Bhutan, The Indian Embassy in Bhutan, The Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation For Humanity, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Special Olympics Bharat (India), and Special Olympics Asia Pacific.
Together, these organizations are working toward the shared goal of ensuring that students with IDD are fully included in school and community life. This MOU represents a significant step forward in Bhutan’s inclusive education journey and lays the groundwork for MoESD’s further engagement and alignment with the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion.
The Global Coalition for Inclusion brings together governments, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector to support inclusive education by using programs such as Unified Champion Schools® and Unified Sports® to turn inclusive policies into practical, sustainable actions in schools and communities, helping students with and without IDD learn, play, and belong together.
MoESD states that it is remarkable that under the Education Policy, the MoESD supports Sports and Physical Activities (SPA) as an integral part of school education, aimed at the holistic development of students and enriching their learning experience. The addition of the UCS programs under the Special Olympics initiative will complement and strengthen this effort by providing structured and focused opportunities for children with and without IDD to participate together. This approach not only enhances students’ ability to enjoy SPA but also promotes active, healthy lifestyles in a fully inclusive environment, fostering social integration, teamwork, and mutual respect, while ensuring that every child remains engaged, active, and valued.
A UNICEF Bhutan representative added, “this partnership embodies the spirit of collective action. UNICEF is committed in supporting the rollout of this MoU in Bhutan’s schools as it works toward its aspirational targets.”
