To bolster the Education system

Studies in the past have discovered a huge gap, particularly in children’s learning, classroom practices, school processes, and education support systems, between the current and the desired state in the quality of learning outcomes.


The need to review the education system and come up with strategic innovations that will bring about positive and visible changes in the overall quality of education has always been in store.


Therefore it is quite timely that the education ministry through its recent announcement of a nationwide consultation on the country’s education system has embarked on a mission to refine what loopholes remain to be corrected.


As is pointed out, the objective is to provide clear vision for both education system aspirations and student aspirations; and Provide time bound strategic road map to transform the entire education system and one that will ensure student learning outcome comparable to international standards especially in Mathematics and Science.


The wide net cast for the purpose shows positive inclinations as it aims at making the process inclusive of social media, interviews, panel discussions and zomdus added to the conventional field surveys, focus group discussions. The survey is looking at interactions with 20,000 plus people across the nation. The consultation process will cover students, in schools and colleges, teachers and principals, civil servants, corporate and private sector employees, armed forces, monastic community, business community, local government leaders and farmers.


The consultation is a part of the review process that began in May 2014, following a Cabinet directive for the preparation of an Education Blueprint, 2014-24 while the blueprint is a 10-year roadmap that will address major education concerns through a thorough review that will present required interventions.


The education blueprint is also in line with the Vision 2020 goals, as it aligns to achieve a level of student competencies equivalent to international standards by the year 2020.


The onset of the Nu 10.5mn process is hope that international standards as a goal aside, the process will neatly trim the huge gap between the sector’s current status quo and the desired point that has embarked upon as a goal (findings from the iDiscoveri and REC report of 2009).


The journey of education has been that of elements making up for ‘a success story’ in many aspects and reiterating the words of His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, if the country should be known for anything as it looks back, “it is education.”


Published as Editorial for Business Bhutan on October 11, 2014