Chencho Dema

Laya-Despite ongoing efforts to promote education, Laya Central School in Gasa—one of Bhutan’s most remote schools—is facing a concerning rise in student dropouts.

The school is grappling with a rise in student dropouts as families increasingly withdraw their children from education. Once seen as a promising path, schooling here now faces uncertainties, casting doubt on the future of many young students.

Between 2022 and the present, 21 students—six girls and 15 boys—have left school, citing personal reasons as the primary cause. In 2022 alone, seven students, including two girls and five boys, discontinued their studies.

Last year, six students—two girls and four boys—dropped out of the school. This year, the number rose to eight, including two girls and six boys. Among these, two boys joined the monkhood, two withdrew for medical reasons, and the remainder left due to “personal” issues.

The majority of dropouts come from Class VII and above.

According to Gasa’s education division records, personal circumstances are the leading reason for students leaving school, followed by health-related issues and a few choosing a monastic life.

Chief dzongkhag education officer, Kinley, noted that while student dropouts occur for various reasons, no comprehensive studies have been conducted to fully understand the issue.

“One common factor, I feel, is parents choosing to keep their children home to assist with family matters,” he said, explaining that many parents see greater potential in local business than in formal education.

To address this, strategies are being implemented to retain students and reduce dropout rates. These measures include ongoing advocacy on the value of education, especially at school reopening times, providing boarding facilities from PP to Class X, and offering continuous parenting education.

Additional focus includes facilitating school admissions in other preferred locations, enhancing school infrastructure, and improving student care systems.

School’s principal, Kinley Dorji, noted that in the past, many students left school to join the Cordyceps harvest. To address this issue, the school now allows students to return after the harvest season to continue their studies. However, the missed classes still impact their learning.

“We’ve been emphasising the importance of education to both parents and students” Kinley Dorji said.

Currently, the school has 20 teachers, 14 of whom are on contract and were employed this year, making about 70 percent of the teaching staff new.

In Class X, there are only two students, while Class IX has just nine students, as most of last year’s Class VIII students failed their board examinations. Class VII has not a single student as all Class VI students were unsuccessful in their board exams last year.

Laya Central School currently has 166 students from PP to Class X.

The school was upgraded to a Middle Secondary School in 2018 from a Lower Secondary School.

Kinley Dorji said that although enrolment seemed to have slightly increased this year, exact figures were not yet available to confirm this trend.

Laya Gup Tshewang, who is also the Thrizin of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu, noted that student dropouts in the past were mainly due to early marriages and participation in the Cordyceps harvest. However, he observed a positive shift in parental attitudes toward education, which has contributed to a rise in student enrolment.

Several parents interviewed by Kuensel expressed their belief that education is essential for their children’s future, and they encourage them to continue their studies.

Gasa has one higher secondary school, one middle secondary school, and two primary schools (Gasa Primary and Lunana Primary). There are also three Extended Classrooms (ECRs)—in Lungo, Thanza, and Mendrelthang.

The dzongkhag also has four Early Childhood Care and Development Centres, two Home-Based ECCD programmes, one Non-Formal Education (NFE) centre, and a Community Learning Centre.