Dechen Dolkar 

The innovative ICT-integrated pilot classroom project has been established in Dechencholing Higher Secondary School and Loselling Middle Secondary school in Thimphu.

The pilot project is for five years from 2021 to 2025 with a total fund of USD 784,000 funded by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea.

The objective of the innovative ICT-integrated classroom is to improve the education environment through increased access to the digital world and enhancing teacher competency, knowledge and skills in ICT in education and dissemination to their students.

It is expected to strengthen students’ digital literacy and increase their overall learning outcomes.

During the inaugural, the minister for education, Jai Bir Rai, said that recognising the importance of ICT and enhancing the quality of ICT, the ministry has ventured into five year ICT master planning process and currently—iSherig-2.

Lyonpo said that to support its implementation, the government has accorded the highest priority to digitising the education system through the education ICT flagship project. “Although much has improved in terms of digitizing education especially access to digital resources with support from Korean government is timely and it will go a long way realising the vision of His Majesty The King to equip Bhutanese with future skills to navigate in the unknown future.”

Lyonpo also mentioned that the ICT-integrated pilot classroom will be a model classroom which would be replicated in other schools. “We will ensure the pilot classroom are being cared for and utilised well.”

The Deputy Director of the ministry of education of the Republic of Korea, Je Yujin, said that the ministry of education of Korea has been continuously establishing 29 ICT pilot classes in 21 countries in the world, including Bhutan since 2011.

She said that two years ago, Korean education minister launched the lead teacher’s group for ICT-trained teachers across the country.

“In future, I hope that ICT classrooms will become core model to further advance educational corporation between the two countries,” Je Yujin said.

The official said that the pilot project was implemented in these two schools because these schools have the largest number of students in the country.

The ICT teacher of Dechencholing High secondary school, Karma Chozom, said that the facilities are upgraded in the classroom with a web server, a digital lectern, and an electronic blackboard.

“It will also enable students to use the ICT classes for other subjects like geography,” Karma Chozom said.