KP Sharma

While the government has pledged to establish chiwog schools based on community needs, the initiative is facing challenges due to a steady decline in the number of schools and enrolment.

The chiwog schools are to include one Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centres and classes from PP to III.

In chiwogs already with primary schools, these schools will be retained with provisions of lunch for students.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) continues to implement the school rationalisation initiative, which focuses on reducing the number of schools.

This initiative was introduced during the tenure of the previous government.

As per the Cabinet directive issued in June 2019, the school rationalisation initiative is aimed at ensuring effective delivery of education through improved administration, governance, financing, and support services.

The Cabinet instructed the ministry to study the rationalisation concept and establish stringent criteria for implementation.

It has also directed the ministry to consider providing at least one school up to Class XII in each constituency with boarding facilities, a Class X school in each gewog, and a Class VI school in each chiwog.

However, the initiative has resulted in the closure of many schools that had long served their communities, leading to dissatisfaction and resistance from the public.

The plan to establish a primary school in every chiwog is also hindered by declining enrolment, which has contributed to further school closures.

According to the education statistics 2024, although student enrolment in schools increased by over 1,000 compared to the previous year, the number of educational institutions decreased, including a reduction in primary schools.

The total number of students in 2024 was about 156,272, compared with 155,159 in 2023, and 162,536 in 2022.

The total number of schools in the country reduced from 571 in 2023 to 566 in 2024. Government primary schools decreased from 323 to 318, lower secondary schools from 38 to 32, and middle secondary schools from 63 to 57 during the same period.

This reduction is attributed to the school merger and consolidation efforts under the school rationalisation programme.

The government closed schools with low enrolment and merged them with larger schools, while redundant centers were also shut down, contributing to the overall decrease in the number of schools.

The net enrolment in primary schools dropped from 94.27 percent in 2023 to 88.83 percent in 2024.

On the other hand, the number of government education institutions increased from 499 in 2023 to 540 in 2024, primarily due to the expansion of Extended Classrooms.

The number of government-owned ECCD centres also grew from 442 in 2023 to 513 in 2024.

Given these factors, the establishment of chiwog schools, as promised during the election, remains uncertain.

During a recent Parliament session, the Education Minister stated that according to the ministry’s 13th Five-Year Plan, one of the key goals is to establish schools in all 20 dzongkhags, 205 gewogs, and 1,044 chiwogs, while enhancing the quality of the education system.

The minister also stated that the ministry is working to strengthen human resources in the education sector by providing necessary training, skills, and orientation programmes, alongside incorporating basic resources and technical equipment in all schools.