Education: With construction of two 120-bed hostels beginning in January this year, Peljorling Higher Secondary School (PHSS) in Tashichholing in Samtse is expected to get its first hostel facility by 2018.

Having a hostel means the students will no longer have to rent houses near the school. More than 500 students rent houses in many areas in Tashichholing, including places near the school vicinity.

Most of the students stay without basic facilities. Some do not even have proper toilets.

Students said since they rely on electric cookers, they face problems when there is electricity outages, especially in summer.

However, going by the increasing student population every year, it is feared the two hostels will not be able to accommodate all the students. Peljorling school had a total of 1,632 students last year.

School principal, Sonam Jamtsho, said students who graduate from primary schools across Samtse are sent to the school and they have to take all the students.

Tashichholing gup, Sameer Giri, also said that the student population inflow increased as the school was upgraded to a higher secondary school from a middle secondary.

The gup said people should not expect developments to come overnight. The two hostels will solve a major problem and the government has been very supportive.”

Meanwhile, the Tashichholing gewog office is administering the construction of the two hostels and monitoring daily activities.

Gup Sameer Giri said although there are 18 months to complete the hostel, they want the project to end ahead of time so the students can benefit.

Meanwhile, principal Sonam Jamtsho said that the school management would provide boarding facilities on priority basis. Class 10 and class 12 students will be given the preference.”

The school management and the gewog office said they will also use bunk beds to cater to more students.

The government has approved more than Nu 30 million (M) for the construction.

Rajesh Rai | Sipsu