KP Sharma

The graduates of Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) specialising in Dzongkha will now be placed in lower, middle and higher secondary schools, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) on July 4.

This decision aims to address issues in the current deployment process and align it with the Royal Civil Service Commission’s (RCSC) directive from January 20 last year.

The RCSC had urged the MoESD to place teachers with higher qualifications in secondary schools to better utilise their expertise.

To facilitate this, the Education and Skills Development Secretary, Tshewang Chophel Dorji, instructed all dzongkhag and thromde education sectors to propose placements for PGDE Dzongkha graduates in higher secondary schools.

The notification pointed out the lack of distinction between B.Ed Dzongkha graduates from Paro College of Education for primary and secondary teaching roles, resulting in placements across both levels. In cases where secondary school vacancies are unavailable, the ministry suggested temporary placements of these teachers in primary schools.

The ministry has also directed the dzongkhags to reassess the current deployment of contract Dzongkha teachers in higher secondary schools and reassign them to lower schools by December 31 to free up positions for regular Dzongkha teacher graduates.

The ministry clarified that this reshuffling would not impact Dzongkha teaching in primary schools, as B.Ed Dzongkha graduates specialising in primary education will be available by 2025.

While the ministry’s initiative aims to ensure efficient resource allocation and match qualifications with teaching roles, some teachers believe this move would also promote Dzongkha learning in schools.

A Dzongkha teacher, with over a decade of teaching experience, said that while teachers with higher qualifications bring more knowledge, effective teaching also requires other essential skills.

He expressed concern over the limited market scope for Dzongkha despite being the national language.

Some teachers believe that deploying specialised Dzongkha teachers in primary classes will positively influence Dzongkha language development. They believe that a solid foundation in primary school shapes the learning abilities of students as they move to higher classes.

Despite the RCSC’s directive, some teachers reported that certain dzongkhags have continued to place PGDE-qualified teachers in primary schools. They said that without proper monitoring, teacher placements were left to the discretion of dzongkhag education officers.

Language teachers, in particular, continue to teach at the primary level since these subjects are taught across all grades, unlike other subjects restricted to higher classes.

This reshuffle is a strategic effort to enhance Dzongkha education, ensuring that qualified graduates contribute effectively to the secondary school curriculum.