KP Sharma

With the end of government scholarships to the students in private schools, there is a drastic decline in the number of students seeking admission for Class 11 this year.

The admission for Class 11 in Private Higher Secondary Schools ended on January 14.

One of the schools in Paro, Karma Academy, initially had about 400 students seeking admission when the admission was announced. However, the school said that many students decided to drop after knowing there is no government scholarship starting this year.

As of yesterday, there were approximately 120 students for Science, more than 20 for Commerce and almost equal number for Arts.

The school said that the number of students enrolled in each stream could change.

Ugyen Academy in Punakha already has approximately 100 students who have passed Class X from the same school last year.

Principal, Norbu Gyaltshen, said that approximately 90 percent of the students have confirmed to continue in the same school.



He said that the school could take about 100 students more. “Most of the students now choose to enroll in Science stream.”

He added that this year Arts section was brought down to one from two last year.

The Principal of Yonten Kuenjung Academy in Phuntsholing said that about 25 students have been admitted in Science stream.

She said that unlike in the past years, students were given very less time to decide and think for the appropriate Stream.

“Many students came to seek admission but did not qualify as per the admission criteria in Science stream” said the principal.

She said that admission criteria set by the ministry hampered the admission in private schools. “There should be some consideration in private schools since students pay and study.”

Some students, she said, could not qualify for Science even with good marks in Science subjects as they have low marks in Mathematics.

Rinchen Higher Secondary School in Thimphu said that only about 10 students have come for the admission so far.

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