…about Nu 14 billion has been allocated for it

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) announced the establishment of 63 central schools across the country in the 13th Plan, with a substantial budget of about Nu 14 billion allocated for this initiative.

This plan, revealed during the ongoing co-ordination meeting on the 13th Plan implementation with local government leaders in Thimphu yesterday, aims to enhance the quality of education and ensure better resource management.

The ruling government, in its election manifesto, pledged to strengthen central schools to ensure quality education.

Initially introduced during the tenure of the second elected government, central schools faced budget constraints and criticism, and was discontinued during the third government’s tenure.

The 63 central schools will be established in a staggered manner.

The director general of the Department of School Education, Karma Galey, said that the ministry will initially establish 20 central schools in the first year, one each in every dzongkhag, followed by 19 in the second year, and 12 each in the third and the fourth year.

The central schools will enjoy full autonomy over its financial and human resource management.

In a major shift, central schools will manage smaller schools within its periphery for efficient resource management. An executive prinicpal, supported by junior principals, will manage a cluster of three nearby schools. For instance, Chukha Central School will manage Tshimalakha Middle Secondary School (MSS), Wangchu MSS, Tshimakha Primary School, and Tashigatshel Primary School.

As per the ministry’s criteria, a central school should offer classes from pre-primary (PP) to class XII and accommodate up to 1,500 students, with 80 percent of them residing as boarders.

Other factors such as location, enrollment rate, expansion space, and infrastructure quality are also considered, according to the ministry.

All centrals schools will have proper infrastructure and services such as safe school environment, wash facilities, heating and cooling facilities, improved sports facilities, smart classrooms, modern laboratories, libraries, and sustainable energy, among others.

Some local leaders expressed concerns that too much focus on central schools could compromise the quality of education in non-central schools.

The Education and Skills Development Minister, Yeezang De Thapa, explained that spreading resources across all 571 schools in the country would cost the government dearly. “The central schools will help us avoid such scenarios.”

Director General Karma Galey said that the government will continue to invest in other schools, through low-cost housing for teachers, improvement of sports facilities, and specialised schools for different talents among others.

Some local leaders also raised concerns over potential power tussle between dzongkhag education officers and executive principals since executive principals will be senior in position than education officers.

Karma Galey said that if appointing an executive principal (EX 3 level) is not feasible, a specialist (ES) principal might be considered.

“Clear guidelines will be developed to define roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder,” he said.

On whether central schools will provide free items to students like in the past, Karma Galey said that the ministry’s priority is to invest in infrastructure and facilities. “Essential items might be provided for free if necessary.”