Right to education

One of the many assurances that parties had given to the people during last year’s election was to provide them educational opportunities. However, as the season for new admissions for new academic sessions approach, things have drastically changed. 

As usual, it looks ironic that less than 28 percent of the total young population will have access to higher education in the country this year. The limited quota and government’s refusal to establish new private schools have left the students in lurch – no options but to return villages to cultivate in them the knowledge of plough.

The colleges under Royal University will have only 1526 seats for this year in contrast to over 5000 students getting through the grade 12 examinations. As I crawled into BBS news, it was astonishing reading news that Bhutanese students from this year need not travel outside for tertiary education, just few lines before it said that total intake for the new academic session will be 1500 fixed. The news is about Royal Thimphu College to be opened this summer. Sprawling over 25 acres of land in Ngabiphu, the college is at a few kilometers from the capital town. 

Sherubtse College will take in 356 students and Gedu College 360 while other institutions will provide seats for around 800 students. 

Around 4,000 youngsters have no future if they continue to believe for right to education in their own country. The desired destinations will be India – possibly Kalimpong and Darjeeling.

For poor performers, no chance in this country. Those obtaining less than 55 percent should see no hope of further education. I should refer the Citizenship Act as I write about poor performers in education, where it is said Bhutan will not provide citizenship to people with disability, mentally ill or such other disorders. The generalized researches have proved that poor performers come from poverty stricken communities since youngsters have to spend their most time in works for hand-to-mouth. No wonder, if the RUB observed students from economically well families – expectations for few exceptions.

No, the well to do families must choose this new college for being luxurious and affordable for them. Hope they will leave other government colleges which charge not all but little fair fees. 

This new college offering courses in Bachelor of Computer Applications, Business Administration, Commerce, English and Dzongkha, Economics, History, Political science and Sociology, will suck Nu 125,000 per year. I advise you to go Kalimpong where you can pursue Bachelors degree in less than 5000 a year.