Digitized textbook for students in pipeline - II

While China is busy nagging supremacy over Bhutan's ancestral land, Bhutan continues to make ineffectual planning.  

Indeed, REC (Royal Education Council) planning onto such a cool digitized textbook is already laudable, a very smart initiative for the day. But, who will bear the entire cost escalation?  

If REC is looking forward to provide quality education, back problems and reduce workload. Digitized textbook is not the ultimate solution. 

Firstly, we must look for better classroom walls, stronger windowpane and superior place to sit on and better infrastructures. I feel lockers for every student in the school is must and slashing unwanted topics is always healthy. 

Secondly, we must think for Smart Classroom Settings (i.e. classroom with WiFi connectivity, overhead projector, audio system, video surveillance system, etc). 

Thirdly, teacher recruitment policy must be upgraded. I mean teacher entry should be for degree holder. Ministry must hunt for competent teacher candidate through series of aptitude test. One teacher can make a huge difference in education system and in the life of student. Therefore, I feel bringing in right teacher candidate is most for the success of Education.  

I don't mean, two teaching colleges and teacher graduate are not doing well. They are doing exceptionally well in the field and –beyond. However, with change in time, and for various social reasons, it is must to have proper degree qualification, and not mere degree in Education field.

This big initiative would definitely bring many positive impact in our boys and girls and would lessen the burden of our teachers. However, I could feel that parents have to sell their last milking cow to meet school demand. Parents who have more than one school going child or single parent have to auction their Kidney, if not their last bull would be unlucky. 

I feel going textbook less curriculum would be absolutely ambitious but an expensive affairs for both RGoB and parents. 

While far powerful country like US and Japan have never thought of such hogwash educational reforms, Bhutan is pushing for this unrealistic project. Is it appropriate this time? Do we have all the luxury to go for such Hi-Fi system, when we don't have functioning PC in school? While Trump Administration is busy negotiating with North Korea for Satellite Superiority, Bhutan continues to make such unsuccessful project to run into broken classroom. 

Should this smart textbook less curriculum be continue to progress, Bhutan's dream for world class education will continue to be unfaithful. Although, the cost of software package developments are borne by RGoB at the initial phase, after all, the service depth goes to all our parents.   

It seemed to me that REC is going crazy upon digitized textbook, which is not at all possible this time. Whatever, implementation part is not as easy as designing by sitting in their office. Before planning such huge project, first they must study and understand the problems at ground level. Therefore, one thing they have to understand is, many schools across the country don't have functioning computer and strong classroom wall. 

I fear simply jumping into digitized textbook to solve 'irreversible back problems' is not the ultimate solution. Rather planning to invest in good system is more important. I am saying what we can do to improve the quality education as well as to prevent back deformities of school boys and girls. I feel, Bhutan is not yet ready for this big Gamble. This would be a complete failure! 

 School Bag.
Image - google

                                   ...to be continued

Note: This is completely a personal view. This is not to offend any readers or concern agencies.