Ananymous "LETTER"

                                                                                Classic calligraphy

The art of letter writing is fast fading away globally. We hardly see people writing letters these days. This could be due to new and easy platforms that new technology provides the users to communicate which are not only fast but also safe and efficient. Nonetheless, people are overly becoming lazy and time conscious.

As the longest academic year comes to an end, I got this letter from one of my students expressing immense gratitude of thankfulness for helping shape their dreams.

It was so sweet to hear such good feelings when many turn down for hatred and prejudice. The small piece was beautifully crafted in thoughts and feelings. It was a short yet very powerful and touching. 

It sounds like the feeling was so honest and genuine. The choice of every single word made was so impressive at such a young age. I can see your future already beautiful. You're already a leader. I can see you more than a "politician". I hope your dream comes true. 

May you become someone your parents can trust? May you serve our country, king and people with highest integrity and loyalty?

Stay blessed as always!

"Less is More" Curriculum

I took part in EduTALK Bhutan series 02.1 as one of the panelists to give some honest experiences, expectations and exhortations of our current education system from teachers angle. I did 10 minutes online presentation to panelists of educationists and other enthusiastic viewers. However, it wasn't easy to face the onlooker's eyes and brain and camera. I was nervous and puzzled. Things didn't shaped as expected. It was my first experience in such a forum although I had attended several online talks in the first series of EduTALK. Nevertheless, listening and watching others is so easy and sweet. 

1# Syllabus

This is where I picked up my presentation. I chanced to share my own experiences of how tiring and difficult it is to cover around 1200-1500 pages of prescribed syllabus. This is too much for 180 instructional days. Syllabus is one thing and the lack of required equipment is another, which is very much burdensome to both teachers and students, which hampers quality learning. With such a level of content and textbook driven syllabus, we keep shooting our arrows whether it hits the target or not. I was worried only to cover the syllabus and nothing more. Since the exam mark is a lifeline for students and way to fix teachers ability to deliver the content. Therefore, bulky contents with complicated concepts and theories not only stress our young learners but also bored them overly.  

a# Lecturing

To cover up the syllabus, lecturing method is one of the best delivery tools administered by all the teachers. 99 percent of our teachers are used to lecturing and another 99 percent of our learners are used to listening lectures (passive listener). For centuries almost nothing has changed in our delivery style and in our curriculum. Listening to 4-5 hours lectures one after another is too much and tiring task our kids. I feel pity especially for some mammoth learners. But, there is not much space to adjust in current system of education. As a result of this intended curriculum, we not only kill their learning right at the buds but also bar their passion to learn. Therefore, technology driven learning is what I have felt we can put forward.

b# How do they learn? 

Thus, far we have failed in our mission to understand how our kids learn best in the classroom. What engage them? What interests them? Are never considered as part of their learning and curriculum. Difference in their learning was never considered, because we don't have a separate curriculum to suit their learning interest. In a class of 30 students, half of them would be slow learners or even less. However, teachers are asked to engage them with some remedial classes or extra time, but there is no space for teachers to engage them because of an exhausting day's lesson. At the end of the class, they have many obligations to meet. Most of the time slow learners are never taken into consideration, and for everyone they are failures and nothing more.  

c# Lack of autonomy 

Children don’t like school because in school they are not free. They are under pressure all the time and everywhere. Teachers are overly authoritative, rigid management and rude staff are hard to face on a daily basis. This is not good for a learning environment for young learners. They need intensive care but not such authority. Everything is tightly controlled by the system that makes our young kids vulnerable. 

 d# No room for passion 

Do our education system address on more human aspects like what am I good at? What do I want to do? Where shall I practice? 

Passion is what we have never thought yet to put in our school. We need a change. We need a more vibrant curriculum that gives learners space to practice and learn their passion when they are at the right age and learning mood. The base of everything has to begin from school. 

Spent Less, Saved More –What an Interesting Resolution for 2021 by BBC

I wasn't surprised by this beautiful catchphrase "Spent Less, Saved More" on the eve of 2021 by BBC. It was intended for two good reasons. Firstly unlike other years 2020 was horrible with exponential spending. Secondly it talks about the importance of saving culture.

It also meant to caution people on eating habits, buying habits, spending habits, cooking habits, dieting habits and wasting habits. The limited resources are getting depleted overly in the hand of gruesome people. However, given the power of this mainstream channel, I am sure everyone must have realized the value of resources –both natural and man-made need care and need to be preserved. 

Bhutanese complaining on skyrocketed prices on consumer goods is a reality. As a dependent society we must realize that every material and consumer goods comes with heavy cost and sacrifice. Recently I came across two very interesting Kunesel headlines. One says 'CFM vendors fight for chillies' and other states 'lack of coordination amongst officials impacts farmers' '. I could see nothing but a rally for a very inefficient system in place for a small nation. Such issues have been going on for quite some time. It needs some serious change. We need good players on the ground that can bulldoze the change we look for and not merely in the office cubicle. 

Due to the pandemic, many developed nations, which are geographically blessed and laboriously powerful, were left bemused by the chaos of insufficient food supply is a lesson especially for Bhutanese people, who survive in the hands or sacrifice of our Indian farmers. It is a warning that the worst is not yet seen.

This is no joke. 

Therefore, we need to be extremely careful in every single grain we consume. We need to make sure no food we prepare goes to waste. Remember cooking, eating and storing the right amount would save others from starvation. 

So, let us learn to "save more, spend less" is more than the BBC slogan. 

Reasons why I Like Tshokey Tshomo Karchung

Tshokey Tshomo Karchung is a Bhutanese actress. She is particularly known for her beauty. She won Miss Bhutan 2008. Karchung is the recipient of various accolades, including best female actor in lead role in several movies. 

 

Over the years, she has become a very popular film figure and one of the best actresses in Bhutan. She has worked on over 18 Bhutanese films. Her first movie was "Lo Tay Hing Tay". Scharchokpa Zamin (2011) starrer by Tshokey Tshomo and Karma Chechung went on to become one of the blockbuster movies winning several national awards. The movie takes viewers through the typical lifestyle of eastern community and the fortune she looks to have in life. She is entertaining and flawless. She is a favorite amongst our youth.

Frame from Scharchokpa Zamin

I wish she had a bigger audience for her acting abilities. I wish she would share big screens with some international film stars. I find she is deemed fit for Hollywood or Bollywood movies. I have no doubt she can become Bhutanese version of Kate Winslet in "Titanic" and Katrina Kaif in "Tiger Zinda Hai". The international front would earn not only name and fame but also financial advantage and room for our younger generation. Someday, we hope to see our own Tshokey Tshomo starring in some international movies and make us feel proud. 

 

The veteran actress Dorji Wangmo is the best, but Tshokey Tshomo is on that level. She has all the requirements and quality to be on a bigger screen for an international audience. 

Tshokey Tshomo Karchung

Picture source: google

Nine 'A': A Class Beyond "Commons"

9A with Face Mask

9A without Face Mask

One important responsibility at school is a class teacher-ship. I already have had ample experiences with science students in previous years. They are the cream of the school. They were not only the finest in academics but also very disciplined. They are relatively easy to hoard. I wasn't put into a hot chair by any of them except by a few. 

 

I had thrown once again back to the old post –"class teacher-ship". I decided to take care of a young group of pupil's; newcomers from nearby junior school. I obeyed to take care of 9 "A", the junior most class in the school. I wasn't sure how they would behave in a new environment but ready to anticipate a yearlong journey with them. I am in-charge of 30 beautiful faces with many dreams and aspirations. The class was a good mix of students mostly with local dominants. Some had joined as far as TashiYangtse and few hailed from Samdrupjongkhar. 

Initially, it took a few weeks to put everyone on board. We focused more on leadership, team building and goal setting. However, some common issues were "late comers" and a few "shrewd" behaviors. 

With chemistry lessons, we shared many beautiful dreams together. Like their promises, they all have worked so hard till the very end of the year and made everyone feel proud. They were loving and adorable, special and kind. We have created a safe, conducive, happy and friendly classroom environment. No bullying. No discrimination. I remember most classes were fun-filled sessions. 

Besides equations, symbols, reactions and theories, our discussion used to be mostly about life and COVID reminders. More importantly, we have created "everyone is a leader" attitude. The role of leadership is what we have overly emphasized and discussed everywhere and all the time. I was very successful in my undertakings; it was all due to the helping hands rendered by two captains. I owe them for everything they have given and done for the class. They have exhibited an undying support that helped me push my mission forward so well till the last day of the school. They have never failed to show the highest integrity and workmanship. They were truly inspiring. 

In fact corona virus has affected everyone but not our relationship and learning, littering and personal hygiene. We've also discussed a bad inherited "toilet trait" of a Bhutanese citizen.

More than a Chemistry tutor, I helped them build hope and dream, waste management and nature, sense of ownership and financial independence, self-care and food values, time management and sports, power of education and reading, photography and trekking. 

We had a fulfilling and a memorable year altogether. More than a class, we became part of a big family. 

Educational Leadership More than Curriculum

 I was lucky to be part of the ongoing EduTALK organized by V-TOB (volunteer teachers of bhutan) from January 1 – 7, 2021. The panelists are mixed individuals from all walks of life. It is the virtual platform which brings in the voices from outside the current education system to share their experiences, perspectives and insights.  

From day one of the session, I have been fortunate to listen to different panelists on different topics –purpose of education, technology in education, curriculum, great expectations, teacher education and professionalism growth, transmission of values and tradition and social and emotional learning. I have gained a lot of different experiences and a strong message as a teacher myself. I wish this talk might have occurred earlier than this, somewhere around the 1950's, so that I would have got better opportunities than I had. 

Some panelists go as far as to share that teaching profession is the least opted or liked job option to any graduates –sad to learn that most people openly say teaching is an easily available job or rather a very cheap job to take up and beat around the bushes. "How proudly people say join the teaching profession if one can't manage another job". However, it was interesting to get repeated views from amongst the panelists that teaching jobs are different in rural and urban areas. The workload and prestige are seen very differently. Furthermore, social stigma regarding the teaching profession is really killing the hearts of anyone in the job or wishing to join the teaching force despite substantial pay rise and other reforms.

It was good to know that teachers are overloaded with work beyond teaching job– hostel warden, mess in-charge, health coordinator, attending students to hospital, developmental activities in school, classroom and agriculture are seen as the main hindrances in the current teaching profession.  The lack of teaching materials like working models, lab equipment, computers, labs, Internet facilities, adequate and relevant training for teachers also pose another dead log in delivering quality lessons. However, some pointed out that despite lack of adequate facilities and training, our teachers in the field have done a great job so far in shaping education as expected and as prescribed. It is also seen that teachers are always in a race the moment they are inside the campus to cover up the syllabus like a rolly-polly game. There is no single moment for teachers and students to explore of their own. Therefore, teaching and learning is overly losing its place and charm. Therefore, it is felt that proper training both in-campus and beyond various aspects is felt necessary –skills like communication, practical, language and subject matters are must and should come timely.

Teachers should be teaching only. However, since we cannot expect the education system or curriculum approaches to change over night. It is best to work on how we can improve on the existing ones with better and doable approaches and how we can adopt and enhance the skills and capacities of teachers to make learning more creative, interactive, fun, holistic and interesting. 

It is the leadership who either succeeds or fails the school, which ultimately fails our future citizens. Therefore, building stronger and vibrant leadership is seen and felt deem necessary and important. Also a shorter teacher training course and focusing more on school based training on subject matters would do more justice than spending awkwardly long on irrelevant courses in teaching colleges. 

A must watch movies for all teachers! 

     To Sir, with love

     Goodbye, Mr. Chips

     Dead Poets' society

     Schools among glaciers

     Lunana –A yak in the classroom

     Taare Zamin Par

     3 idiots

Let us question ourselves on how far this is true –"poor curriculum in the hands of the good teacher is the gold, good curriculum in the hands of a poor teacher is a disaster". 

However, the question of how to make teaching noble, attractive and set a high social status is still seen as an uphill task. 

I will remain grateful to the host Mrs. Sonam Norbu, Teacher, all the panelists and participants. Education is everyones business!!!

United -What?

Caption: 

Lhadar or divine flag: The power of unity. 

May the wind spread the good will and compassion into pervading space for all sentient beings.