The Social and Cultural Committee recommended transforming CLCS into a national hub for Dzongkha research and advanced studies

KP Sharma

The National Assembly’s Social and Cultural Committee has recommended that the College of Language and Cultural Studies (CLCS) be retained with revised programmes and modules focusing on Dzongkha language and Bhutanese culture.

The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) had halted new enrollments at CLCS in 2023, leaving the college with just 248 students in its third and fourth years, despite its capacity to house over 1,000 students. This decision, coupled with phased-out programmes, raised concerns about the college’s future.

The Committee stated the government has made huge investments of over Nu 1 billion in CLCS infrastructure, making it one of the best-equipped colleges within RUB.

The Committee also emphasised the role of CLCS as the sole tertiary-level institution devoted to promoting Bhutan’s national language and cultural heritage.

Describing the college as a cornerstone of the country’s identity, the Committee urged its revitalisation and expansion.

The Committee’s recommendations include establishing CLCS as a Dzongkha Language Research Centre and introducing Master’s and PhD programmes in Dzongkha and Cultural Studies.

The Committee also called for better coordination between the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and the RUB to eliminate programme duplication with other institutes, such as the Royal Institute of Performing Arts and the Institute of Science of Mind.

The Committee highlighted the need for a more unified framework to streamline academic offerings and avoid overlapping courses.

Current academic offerings at CLCS include bachelor’s programmes in Dzongkha and Culture Studies, Language and Literature, and a Master’s in Dzongkha and Choekay. However, some programmes, such as the Bachelor’s in Himalayan Studies and a Diploma in Language and Communication Skills, have been phased out.

The Committee outlined contingency plans for repurposing CLCS if necessary, including transforming it into a central model school, a premier STEM institution, or a regional school for Sarpang Dzongkhag students, particularly if Gelephu’s development as a Mindfulness City lead to the closure of current schools.

Despite these challenges, the Committee stressed the importance of CLCS in educating Bhutan’s future citizens in the national language and preserving the country’s unique culture.

The Committee also recommended that CLCS remain a secular, inclusive institution, free from any religious affiliation.

As a part of the reform initiative, the RUB revamped and phased out several courses from 2021.

Most of the courses that were irrelevant to the market were phased out.