COUNTRY BACKGROUND - Gross National Happiness Commission

Education
1995. This will necessitate the strengthening of the Bhutan Board of Examination to undertake the task. A Board of
Education consisting of senior educationists will also be formed to advise the Bhutan Board of Examination (BBE)
and to develop linkages with educational institutes in the region to ensure that BBE's certificates are valid and
honoured by other institutes.
11.42 Curricula will also be developed for higher secondary level education between Class VII-X. The curriculum
development will not only include re-writing textbooks but also diversifying the subjects. Arts, crafts, computer
science and basic skills in agriculture, carpentry, electrical and mechanical objects and typing will be introduced.
The introduction of trade skills will widen the range of opportunities for those who seek employment directly from
secondary education.
11.43 In the 1988-89 academic year, an average of 10 per cent of students were dropouts and an average of 25
percent of students were repeaters. The implementation of NAPE, which is activity centred and more interesting to
the child than the one it replaced, is expected to reduce the repeater and dropout rates. The introduction of
continuous classroom assessment of pupils is also envisaged to identify reasons for high dropout and failure rates.
In addition, a study into the causes of high repeater and dropout rates will be undertaken. Its results will form the
basis of corrective measures.
11.44 There are at present 5 Sanskrit Pathsalas with a total enrolment of 458 and 16 teachers. They are located in
the south to cater to special needs of communities of the south.
11.45 The Department of Education plans to develop a physical education curriculum, including improvement of
traditional and modern sports and games; and organization of regional and national sports competitions.
Improving the Efficiency in Delivery of Educational ServicesImproving the Efficiency in Delivery of
Educational Services
11.46 The Royal Government has accorded the education sector high priority in terms of RGOB expenditure,
however budgetary constraints will necessitate restraint in the expansion of expenditure. The Department of
Education will thus identify the most cost effective means of providing education to the population. In this context,
community participation in the construction of community schools and maintenance, bussing services, private
schools, and in some cases relocation of schools will be promoted to improve enrolment rather than building new
schools and boarding facilities to encourage increased enrolment in remote areas.
11.47 Most of the additional pupils to be enroled at the post primary level will be accommodated in existing
schools, which will need to be improved and/or expanded.
11.48 Private entrepreneurs will be encouraged to set up primary schools in towns. The Department of Education
will develop appropriate incentives to make this venture attractive.
11.49 The administrative and supervisory capacities of the Department and the District Education Officers as well
as the collection of data to strengthen monitoring and evaluation capabilities of the Planning Division will be
improved.
Increasing the Numbers and Skills of National TeachersIncreasing the Numbers and Skills of National
Teachers
11.50 One of the main constraints to the rapid development of primary education is the lack of trained national
teachers. The overall desired teacher-pupil ratio in primary schools is 1:36 as opposed to the 1990 ratio of 1:30. But
the average ratio disguises the problem of high numbers of pupils per class in the lower classes and low numbers
in higher classes of primary schools. This results in low utilisation of classroom space and teacher time in the
higher classes of primary schools. To improve the utilization of teacher-time, multigrade teaching system will be
introduced gradually. To improve classroom space utilization, the minimum permissible number in a classroom
shall be 25.
11.51 As the number of pupils increase, there will need for a parallel increase in the number of teachers,
9