Child Adoption Dilemma

Does it make sense to you? Is it going to work? Is it going to help in reshaping the behaviors of someone's child with someone's adoption?

The idea of the "One child One teacher" was a personal initiative of His Excellency Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. It came as an order for all the schools to look for the leeway to adopt a child each, or more by the school teacher compulsorily. I was shocked. Child was shocked. Indeed, everyone was shocked. What is a Child Adoption? Whom to adopt? Why adopt someone's child? What are the basic rules to adopt a child? Do the acting parents need to produce legal certification from the court? In fact, the initial idea of child adoption had confused all of us thoroughly. 

Honestly, it took a long time to convince people working in the Ministry of Education –both teachers and students about this new initiative. Not to forget the biological parents –especially some literate parents felt not so fine. It wobbled them. But the majority of uneducated parents were unaware of this change being in the limelight. It made no difference for them. 

I saw many grievances being passed through social media and other platforms on this matter, some verily liked the idea and many were against this idea. This issue has erupted from both  parents and the teachers. More intelligent and clever parents felt that their child might be taken away by the acting parent (teacher) after their schooling, or once they get into a job. This isn't fair was the initial concern. On the other hand, teachers who need to act as a parent felt that this program would further bring them unnecessary workload, burden and so on…

We saw our parents worried so much at the same time it worried teachers back in the school too with this and that misconception. 

But let me tell you the actual purpose of the child adoption program (2015). We believe in providing quality education and branding our students to be innovative, enterprising and trustworthy citizens. The Ministry also felt that it is time to make a combined effort to ensure that every child in the school is safe. Under this initiative each teacher takes up the parenthood of one, or more students and supports them in academic improvement and some behavioral changes. 

From 2015 on, I've been acting as an adopted parent to many students. I finally could learn something from this initiative. 

I feel good to be a part of this program now. I feel lucky to have so many students who can refer to me as "My Adopted parent" even though I was not worthy. In the year 2015, I adopted one student as my adopted child (Sonam Tshomo from class XII science). However, in the following year school came with the brand new "pastoral care" idea and every staff needed to adopt at least 14 to 15 students, meaning school staff (both teaching and support staff) have adopted all the students. No student was left without adoption. This basically had created a better and lively environment for all of us and –beyond. 

In the year 2017, I took the charge of 16 students of different classes and guided them in academic enhancement and helped some in coping up with stress and emotion and other daily affairs. The best part was, I found each child amazing and unique.

Wangchen Dorji and I

However, for 2018 again we've reversed our child adoption policy back to one. We came back with this idea basically to focus on one child's development by providing quality time. For which I have adopted Mr. Wangchen Dorji of class XIE.

Wangchen Dorji and I had a twist of fate. I taught him in class IX. But due to some reasons he left Zhemgang CS and joined Yebilaptsha CS and completed his class X. He luckily qualified and he is back to Zhemgang CS. I'm happy for him. When he was in class IX, I scolded him, I even knocked him several times for not doing his work and punished for not obeying me. But sadly I didn't seek to understand his problem. 

However, what I've found new in him was, he wasn't that same Wangchen of 2015. He has changed top to bottom. He became handsome and more mature, he started to know his being in many ways and not to forget he also improved in his academic discipline. I started to feel he is a very special and talented boy from his class. He is always a hero for his father and to me as well now. 

As much as his father is concerned, now I hope to help him excel in his behaviors, passion for games and academic performance as well. I hope and pray he can become a role model not only for his father but also for the whole school. I don't want him to quit his academic life.