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Have Our Private Schools Done Enough - Some Serious Questions

Education is considered as the heart of any nation. Therefore, a progressive nations look at education from a very different angle and give it the due importance it deserves. 

 

The news by some media about private schools shutting their doors for higher secondary admission from next academic year is not good news for all of us. The way our private owners giving up their education business established with much sacrifice is not the ultimate solution. 


Though a heart-breaking news, I can still see an ample chance to prove themselves worthy. For they have come this far, instead of feeling defeated, they should prove by setting their new standard, which can bring them more fortune and their business can easily be timeless.

 

A huge number of young children being forced out of Bhutanese education system simply indicates  our schools are not doing enough. Therefore, many elite parents who think the importance of education send their kids to performing International Schools in India and abroad. 

 

believe that we simply fail to be a competitive partner, lack innovation and setting standards were never felt necessary because each passing year was simple and ordinary. For most, the numbers of new admission have mattered and calculated. By my layman's calculation, even small numbers of students keeps business afloat and running. 

 

Should we realign in our approach and mentality, I can see ample opportunities in getting back old milking cows. 

 

For the past few years, amongst many other private schools, I have seen the ELC High School at Thimphu doing quite well under the dynamic leadership of the school principal. What really amazed me is the number of students they admit. To me small and manageable numbers of students are their strength and each pupil seems to be performing very well.


Even more intriguing to me was their mental wellness classes and other extracurricular activities are what is missing in our education system. I feel this is truly an act of smart approach to education because education is not simply empowering the brain and knowledge but a whole approach. 

 

I saw many life changing experiences being given to each child on this campus. I am equally thrilled by the way they manage and treat each child for their wholesome development by including some exchange program as part of their learning and it has already been proving worthwhile and the good news is that they have set quite a high bar for themselves already. 


I can see this school can stand on the shoulders of their past achievements. Although, it is going to be an uphill task and looks like it will take some bit of Ms. Deki’s time and effort. But, I can see a sustaining future of ELC High School even at the cost of the storm of Thimphu valley as Ms. Deki stands high above on the hill facing the Great Buddha Dordenma Statue.


In my eyes ELC is already proving a right place to start education. For western educated Madam Deki, there is no looking back, storms may come and go, but the foundation of this school shall remain rooted in Thimphu soil. 

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