Bhutan witnesses pace of improvement in education: principal

Bhutan's education system has seen a pace of improvement, said Pema Chhoden Wangdi, Principal of Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School in Bhutanese capital Thimpu.

Since its first "Five Year Plan" in 1961, the government of Bhutan has been able to expand the modern education system, from about 11 schools prior to first "Five Year Plan" to 556 schools and institutes in 2009, according to Annual Education Statistics under Policy and Planning Division of Ministry of Education.

"Schools in Bhutan used to obtain affiliation from Indian Board but now it has its own Board of Examination to proceed," Wangdi told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview in Thimphu.

At the same time the expansion of education system has been accompanied by a rapid growth in the enrollment of students as a result of the government's commitment to education, she added.

From about 400 students in the early 60's (beginning of the first plan), total enrollment has increased in all levels of formal education and tertiary institutes in Bhutan to 169,313 as of March 2009, reflecting a growth of about 5 percent over the previous academic year 2008.

Yangchenphug, one of the popular higher secondary schools in Bhutan, has become the instance of improvement of school education in the country.

Initially a co-educational residential school, Yangchenphug had an enrollment of 91 students and faculty of 6 teachers at the inception.

At present, there are altogether 1,534 students studying in Yangchenphug including more than 800 girls and 600 boys, according to Wangdi. Interestingly their 5th King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk was graduated from the same school. Not only him but also other royal students go to this school for their study.

Source: Xinhua