Phub Dem

Speaking to lecturers of Paro College of Education (PCE) yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering emphasised the importance of the Royal Kasho and sought suggestions and feedback from the educators to bring reforms in the education sector.

He said that the focus on reforms was shaped after the Royal Kasho, following which the institution could brainstorm and submit the ideas to the Royal University of Bhutan.

He added that the document could serve as a basis for the policy to bring reforms to the education sector.

Briefing about the education flagship programme, Lyonchhen said there was a need for professional development in the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) department. “ECCD instructor should be a sub-specialist teacher and not just babysit the children.”

With a budget of Nu 1.3 billion for the education flagship programme, Lyonchhen said that the government was working on the specialisation of ECCDs.

Lecturers shared about people looking down on the teaching profession and the need for an Act for persons with disabilities, among other issues.

A lecturer said that PCE usually received low performing students.  The college, he said, came up with a recruitment framework to begin enrolment in PCE earlier than other colleges to improve teacher quality and make teaching a top career option.

However, Lyonchhen said that the ingredient to attract high performing students was not timing but to make the profession attractive.

Another lecturer, Penjor, said that there were incidents where teachers trained for primary education had to teach middle schools. “Policy should take into account such issues.”

Lyonchhen said that there was a need for multiple approaches to address these issues.

Concerning the need for an Act for persons with disabilities, he said: “Let us first prepare the institution, make resources available, and then think about having the Act.”