Chhimi Dema 

A total of 317 students did not return to school after schools resumed in July. 

Education Minister JB Rai said this responding to a question from Maenbi-Tsaenkhar MP Choki Gyeltshen on the issue of school drop out cases amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the Question Hour in the National Assembly yesterday. 

The education minister said that most of the drop out cases were linked to mostly marriages and family issues. Some of those who dropped out, he said, wanted to continue in the next academic year.  

The dropout rate in Class X was 7.4 percent, which is the highest among Classes PP to X, according to the Annual Education Statistics 2020. 

The education ministry, he said, called the students to understand the reasons for not returning to school. 

“Most of the students want to continue next year as the pandemic has affected learning environment. Students feel that they would not be able to perform at their best this year,” the education minister said.  

Nanong-Shumar MP Lungten Namgyel sought clarification on media reports that all students from classes PP to VIII would be promoted to the next grade without having to sit for exams.

The education minister said that it was reported that students would be automatically promoted. “However, the ministry issued a circular saying that classes from PP to VIII shall be promoted based on assessment tasks provided online and through broadcast media,” he said.

Results, Lyonpo said, would to be given based on their competency level. He added that students would get a bridge programme in the next grade based on their need and the level they achieve in the result.

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