Her Way : My Daughter In The Pursuit of Education

At her age, I barely knew the existence other than my parents, relatives and a tiny village. Except for a few auspicious hospital visits, I was never exposed to the outside world. At 5, the farthest I knew was the boundary of my home and village. 

”

The Frog in the Well knows nothing of the mighty Ocean

 

A little innocent boy draped in torn clothes and bare feet, I never imagined I would one day sit in front of a power laptop, phone, sofa, have a cosy bed and walk around a high rise building and drive a car.

Fast forward, the world including my village has changed so fast and so much. The road and electricity were never thought to be the basic necessities of livelihood. And more over, people moving outside of their community for education, work and livelihood was never envisioned since farming work used to be the supreme end. 

We never imagined the power of technology would grow this powerful and sophisticated and dictate us like today. Whatever are the happenings; there is no looking back, and gone are the days.

 

Sitting back and seeing my girl who is yet to be 6-year old this March is already way advanced than her parents; she is already so exposed to things such as YouTube, tv, phones, tabs, laptop, computers, books, comic, pen, pencil, colors, geometry box, make-up set, dolls, toys, cars, dresses, shoes, foods, pizza, cake, ice cream, coffee, chocolate, sweets, etc. 

 

I don’t feel so excited, proud, and moved when some of my friends and relatives say –she speaks fluent English. Although she can communicate well with correct grammar and tenses, yet I don’t feel proud, nor do I take any credit. It happened by virtue of being a new era child. Thanks to the power and versatility of the internet and technology.

 

Of course, they are more fortunate than most of us. There is nothing special to feel at an age when things are just away at the click of a button. This trend and fashion will remain forever hereafter is a normal thing. 

 

More than her English, I worry about her flare and tie in our National Language and my mother tongue. These are the two worrying trends I am experiencing in my family and with my kids. Ever since she was born to us, we always focused and wanted her to be exposed to Dzongkha (national language) and mother tongue, but it never happened the way it is thought initially for the fact that English content is everywhere in most lovable manners making escape so hard and omnipotent. 

 

My mother tongue at home is already near to extinction and this is becoming a test of time with my aging parents. However, I keep little hope in my parents to inherit a few important words, culture and tradition to my kids.

 

At 7, I was hardly exposed to, or knew how to say my name. But, my daughter at 5 can easily write her name, draw her favorite food, cloth, doll, place, and more. 

 

More interestingly, she can also easily identify different colors and even complete the alphabet without looking. It is something to feel proud of as a parent, but how to make lifelong learning is a big test of time and age because outside is more beautiful, attractive and interesting than the hardship of learning. 

 

***My Daughter -YESHA making her productive time***

Ap RIZAL, and My Team

Paddy is a lifeline for many farmers of Tsirang. However, in recent years, cultivation of this crop has seen a great decline. The reasons cited were urbanization, water scarcity, climate change, human-wildlife conflict, labour shortage, difficult nature of the work and more.

 

Despite these challenges, it is humbling to see our farmers still upholding age-old practices of paddy cultivation their forefathers have practiced and inherited. Perhaps, the good news is that around 50% of the farmers I know are self-sufficient and few are extraordinary farmers who have their paddy stock for as long as 2-year. 

 

Except for essential goods like salt and sugar and oil, these groups of farmers need not have to worry with lockdown, inflation and ban. For a cultivable land-scarce nation like ours; it would be of great help if another 15% of us are self-sufficient for rice and chili production nationwide. 

 

Passing by around the lust of the paddy field and not being able to help nearby farmers is a big waste of my manhood and able-body. For now, I am living with nothing but guilt and suffocation. 

 

Although paddy work is one of the hectic farm jobs requiring a heavy physical strength, I still want to be part of this work and taste the strength and skill I acquired as a child. And more importantly I would like few of my students to connect farming and hardship our farmers are enduring on a daily basis in the sun and the rain. 

 

I went looking for a farm who could give us a chance to experience the charm of the paddy harvesting process; if not for me, it's for my students who haven't been in the field. For them it will be a lifelong experience.

 

With a heavy heart, one farmer half-way through his life has accepted my request. He knew that we definitely would damage his paddy, yet he accepted my quest and his positivity made my day – sir, we learn through mistakes came as a big relief. With joy overflowing, I returned home with satisfaction and prepared for the next day.

 

Schools like ours have a huge capability of manpower, and giving our students some seasonal break from academic pressure to such exposure and feeling is more than a lesson. For the past 2 years, this idea came, and I buried it deeply within my mind. I couldn't do anything, but remained helpless because of the pandemic and more.

 

For ages, we have lived in a very closed-knit society. We share a boundary as close as what neighbours curry is, and the color of aunty's pants. When we have such a bond and relation, I want to simply spread my wings of goodness in the community in the work we can do so much and perhaps, agriculture is an art, a gift of livelihood everyone of us must cherish with joy, honor, pride and dignity.

 

Son of a farmer passing by a lustrous paddy field always makes me feel proud, and my heart goes out to all the farmers who sacrificed each moment of their life on the farm to make me feel proud and obliged. The place where I was born, raised and educated, I feel I have so much to give and spread love and kindness. 

 

Initially, we went for an hour, but we spent our fulfilling 3 hours in the farm experiencing, experimenting, and mastering the skills required for the job -cutting, handling and stacking. 

I think of this beautiful quote in-between...

 

”

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child!

 

We had a great time on the farm exploring the paddy cutting process practically involving the concepts of force, weight, angle and symmetry. Aesthetics were part of the task because every handful of straw is stacked in the most appropriate manners. 

 

We all could relate to each grain that comes on our table with great endurance, hardship, sweat and blood. We also learnt about the sacrifice our parents are making on each day for their livelihood. Perhaps, it was a good gathering to thank each farmer across the country who is sacrificing for someones' livelihood. 

 

The true beauty of being a farmer lies in the power of hand. More-so, the wealth of a nation lies in the strength of our farmers who dares to sweat in the farm and the power lies in the unity and love we share and spread with our farmers. Each one of us is a farmer in our own way. Let us empower our farmers!

 

As much as I have loved the art of farming, I sincerely hope five students who accompanied me by sacrificing their personal time to be in the farm are the true Pelden Drukpai sons and daughters. I hope they must have enjoyed and made memories of their lifetime. 

 

 

*** Picture Summary of the Paddy Harvesting Trip to Rizal's Farmhouse***

 

 

King Spoke His Heart on 8th Session of the Third Parliament -Something to deeply reflect upon by each one of us

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Recently, I met a 27-year-old woman who has a four-year-old son. She works in a café, and makes Nu. 12,500 a month. Her house rent is Nu. 7,750. She is her family’s sole breadwinner. I was dismayed to hear about her struggles supporting her family and trying to make ends meet. 

Thimphu is seen as a place of opportunities for our youth. But the young people I met in Thimphu face many challenges. They work long hours, six days a week. But they make less than the average monthly rent for an apartment. They live with roommates and pool their incomes just to get by. 

When we have a fever and sore throat, we know that we are sick. Similarly, when our youth are struggling to make ends meet, this is a symptom that our country is unwell. 

We have been well-aware of our problems for a while now. A lot of work has gone into trying to address them. We have drawn up strategies, plans and policies. We have sent our best Bhutanese to top Universities abroad, and our officials on study tours to bring in fresh ideas and solutions. We have even recruited foreign and local consultants. We have set up commissions and departments, and held meeting after meeting to try to crack the issues we face. Despite all our hard work, we have failed to produce results. This is a matter of grave concern. 

However, the ongoing national efforts for transformation gives me hope. For the first time since I became King 16 years ago, I see a new dawn over the horizon. There is a perceptible difference in our efforts this time. There has been a shift in attitudes towards work, and a greater sense of concern, seriousness and urgency, even as we tackle the increasing volume of work. 

I want to thank the members of the National Assembly and National Council for supporting this national endeavour. 

I also want to express my appreciation to the Opposition Party, who has not only stood in solidarity with the government during the pandemic to keep our country safe, but also continues to support the ongoing transformation efforts. This shows that our Opposition Party understands the importance of the task at hand, and prioritises the wellbeing of our country and people over any political mileage that they could gain. This augurs well for the future of our democracy. 

Our civil servants have put in tremendous time and effort to battle the pandemic. In the transformation process, the focus is once again on them. With increasing workload and having to adjust to many changes, they have been under more stress. They have shouldered their responsibilities admirably, placing the welfare of the nation above self-interest. I appreciate their dedication and service. 

It is difficult for elected governments to introduce change, even if they are beneficial for the country. Whereas a new, finished bridge is welcomed by the people, not everyone is willing to contribute, participate and make sacrifices during construction. Our government, led by the Prime Minister, has been fearless and firm in their resolve to carry out the transformation process, which we all deeply appreciate. 

This monumental transformation taking place in the country today would not have been possible without our people’s understanding and support. Moreover, the ongoing work stems from the aspirations of our people, who are well aware of our problems, as well as the steps needed to course-correct for our present and future. 

As a nation, we are at an inflection point. Our actions today will determine the course of our future, and put us either in the path of success or failure. There will not be any more opportunities, and we have no choice but to work with the greatest sense of urgency. 

In the past, Bhutan relied heavily on income from hydropower to drive national development and growth. This is no longer the case. Major projects like Punatshangchu 1 and Kholongchu have cost us heavy losses and increased national debt. They remain incomplete even after more than a decade. Progress in the energy sector has made electricity cheaper in India, which means the hydropower we produce is becoming less and less competitive. 

Socio-economic development, to improve the lives of our people, requires capital investments. Bhutan has relied mainly on foreign grants and loans, which makes us extremely vulnerable. 

We may look to trade to support economic growth. But today our balance of trade is in deficit. We import far more than we export. Just like a person whose expenses exceed income remains poor, a country with more imports than exports grows poorer. Our weak economy, low productivity and negligible levels of technological adoption creates an environment that suppresses opportunities for learning and growth.

It is impossible to drastically raise wages in such a situation, unless the country irresponsibly borrows large amounts of money to distribute freely to supplement incomes. 

Our youth are left with no choice but to seek opportunities elsewhere. While Australia has become emblematic of this trend, we know that there are Bhutanese working in almost 100 countries across the world. We can only expect more of them to leave in the coming years, if our situation does not improve. 

Maybe we accept this for the present, expecting that our children will surely be better off later on. For our children to succeed, they must receive a good education. The reality is that the education we are giving them today falls short of global standards. By failing to equip them with the skills and competencies needed for the 21st century, we are putting their futures at risk. 

As a small country with a small population, it should have been easier for Bhutan to achieve our goals. But we have some major administration and management issues. Our operating costs and the cost of delivering services are high. Our operational efficiency is low. There are systemic weaknesses, gaps, and inefficiencies, leading to huge wastage. There is little accountability. The amount of resources, time and effort spent does not produce corresponding results. It takes four people to do one person’s job, costs two or three times more, and takes two or three times longer. I am deeply concerned that we will not progress further at the rate we are going. 

There is no need to be embarrassed, upset, distressed, or alarmed. But we must be deeply concerned. There is no shame in acknowledging past mistakes. But we cannot continue making the same mistakes going forward. We may have failed once, but we cannot afford to fail again. Our task ahead is to bring about change and transformation, and radically improve the lives of our people. This is not the time to shift the responsibility to someone else. It is important that our people identify the nature and extent of our problems, and recognise that now is the time to take ownership to fix them.

As we undertake this monumental task, some people may ask if we are ready. 

If we start with doubt and hesitation, we will never be ready. I am confident that Bhutan is ready for change, and that we must accomplish it as soon as possible. 

Others, who understand the importance of our endeavour, may still advocate for a slower and less disruptive pace of change.  
The fact remains that our situation has never been more critical. We have numerous challenges and a tremendous amount of work, and time is running out. If we are in the middle of a great river, and our only option is to swim ashore, we cannot expect to emerge dry and comfortable. I firmly believe that we must act as swiftly as possible to address all our problems, and avert the risks that threaten our very future. 

Some people may wonder if transformation and change means that our national objectives have changed. 

Our national goals and objectives as a country will never change. Our goals remain the same- to fulfill the aspirations of our people, by strengthening national sovereignty and security, and ensuring the wellbeing and happiness of our people now and in the future. It is our manner and approach to work that is changing. 

If we continue working in the same manner as before, we will fail to achieve our objectives, and bring suffering upon our people. This will be a great moral transgression on our part. On the other hand, our greatest achievement will be bringing about the right changes and successfully averting a bleak future. 

Some of you may ask, will we succeed? 

Yes, we will succeed because we must succeed. Failure is not an option. Why? Ask yourself, what is the purpose of undertaking transformation and change? Is it for me? Is it for you? No. It is for us- for all the people of Bhutan, and for future generations. 

We are working for a noble purpose. The Bhutanese are a people of great integrity and strength. We are a united people. If we are firm in our resolve, we will surely succeed. We need strong and able leaders for this task. Even though our population is small, we have many capable and dependable people to lead the way. 

I do not mean success will be automatic or easy. If we work hand-in-hand and pledge ourselves in the service of the nation, we will succeed.
It is only when all our people are genuinely invested in our future, take ownership, shoulder responsibility, and hold ourselves and one another accountable and to higher standards, that we will accomplish what we have set out to do. 

Consider the increasing amount of litter in our cities and towns. From time to time, we see volunteers from different sections of society carrying out cleaning campaigns, toiling outside to clean up public spaces, driven by a genuine sense of service to the community. At the same time, we also have many people who litter thoughtlessly. If one hand picks up litter but the other hand keeps throwing it, we will always have a problem. Which group do you belong to?

This equally applies to all that we are doing to pursue our national objectives. If one hand is used to undo the other hand’s work, we will not move forward. As a society, it is time for us to join hands, and work with a common purpose.

Next, you may ask, what might impede transformation? 
First, we need money. While adequate funds will make our task easier, insufficient funds will hamper progress. 

Second, while it is easy to make changes, it is much harder to sustain them. Any improvements that have been introduced must be institutionalised. They must be enduring and ubiquitous. Take the example of a thermometer— applying heat will raise the mercury and give us a higher reading, but it will return to zero as soon as the heat is removed. Unlike a thermometer, our work should be built on progress, and not be reversed as soon as we ease our efforts.

Finally, change must extend to our people, if they are to be readied for the future. As a Buddhist Kingdom, Bhutanese are a compassionate people, with a strong moral compass and sense of community. These are admirable qualities. However, we also need to have the skills, abilities and professionalism necessary to thrive in the 21st century. Our mindset and approach to work must reflect the demands of the 21st century. By and large we are unacquainted with such an outlook, and this is where we have to prepare our people for change.

It is far easier to make structural and administrative changes than to change mindsets. This is a difficult and challenging but nevertheless necessary task.

When will we see the results of our efforts? 
We will see results in three stages. 

We are already beginning to see some results. There are structural changes in the civil service to bring greater clarity to an agency’s goals, roles and responsibilities. More importantly, there is a visible change in our civil servants’ attitude and approach to work. There is a greater focus on accountability and attention to detail. There are higher expectations and lower tolerance for lapses and oversight.

For example, it was reported that the Bank of Bhutan (BoB) was penalised by the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) for a system failure that shutdown BoB for 3 days. In the past, such lapses that caused a great deal of inconvenience to the public would have gone unnoticed. At most, the bank would have gotten a slap on the wrist and be asked to submit a letter of explanation.

This reflects a much larger change in mindset and attitude within the bureaucracy. In this instance, RMA not only levied a substantial fine, but also required BOB to submit a business continuity plan to be prepared for any contingencies in the future. This is an extremely good sign for things to come. We are starting to see things through from start to end. We are acknowledging problems, taking others to task, and ensuring lapses are corrected.

Another example is from the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB). 15 years after we introduced democracy in Bhutan, we see that the ECB has raised the bar for being elected into office. Democracy was introduced in Bhutan by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, with the wish that we build a strong democracy that will always live up to the expectations of the people, by being the bedrock of integrity, trust and dependability. With many failed democracies the world over, our forefathers laid out a vision for an exemplary democracy with service to people always at the forefront. This means consistently raising our expectations from elected officials. The ECB’s new standards reflect a changed mindset within the organization, and shows that they have internalized the spirit of the transformation, and understood their responsibility with greater clarity.
Conversely, we often see things remain in a state of inertia for decades. For example, when the Sustainable Development Fee for Tourism was raised for the first time in over 30 years, it came as a shock. This happened because the SDF had not been revisited at all in that period. We must not allow democracy to stagnate in the same manner. Rather, we must constantly seek to raise the bar. 

We see many new faces in positions of leadership and responsibility. Some may think that this means younger people are being given the opportunity for leadership roles. I would say that competence is being given more weightage. We are making good progress in building a meritocratic system.

I am reassured to see these changes in mindset and approach.
We will begin to see results from the structural, legal, policy, and economic changes in the next 2-3 years. This is the second phase. 
The third phase is continuity. This is not a one-time exercise. Rather, change is the only constant. Maintaining this momentum of change means continued assessments, reviews, tracking and monitoring. 

Now when we talk about holding agencies and individuals accountable, it does not mean that we want to create a system driven by punishment and fear. We have to ask ourselves, whom do we serve? Not any agency or individual. But the people. Those in leadership positions and responsible for public service delivery must be held accountable. That is the only way to ensure the wellbeing of our people and our continued progress as a country. 

There may be some who ask, aren’t these goals we have outlined far too ambitious and idealistic for a small country like ours? 
We believe that Bhutan is extraordinary- the land of Pelden Drukpa, blessed by Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. If we want to remain exceptional, our efforts should also be exceptional. As a small, developing country sandwiched between two giant neighbours, in an ever-changing world, our only option is to be extraordinary. We must focus all our current efforts to build strong foundations of an extraordinary nation.
As King, I have pledged my life and service for the wellbeing of our country and people. If I had the slightest doubt that our goals were far beyond our reach, I would not encourage our people to pursue them. I am fully confident in the capabilities of our people. I believe that we can achieve everything we set out to do. 

At the start, I shared the story of a young mother of a four-year-old child. Her name is Karma Dechen, and she is from Pemagatshel. 

Maybe Karma Dechen is watching television now, or she will later. If asked, she might say that I spoke about the importance of transformation and change, how we have failed in the past but must succeed now, and that we will succeed if we all shoulder responsibility and work as a united people. I said this is for the benefit of our country and people. 
Maybe she will wonder how this will affect her, Karma Dechen, at a direct and personal level. 

Karma Dechen, rest assured that we will do our best to bring about the transformation that our country urgently needs. Your circumstances trouble us just as much, and we are determined to succeed in resolving them. 

You have a four-year-old son. If nothing changes, your son’s future will be uncertain. This endeavour is so that he will get a good education in Bhutan, and grow up to be a capable young man, a proud Bhutanese who can succeed anywhere in the world. 

Today, you are struggling financially. If things don’t change, your circumstances will not have improved even when you have grown old. This transformation is so that you will have your own home, money, and the ability to leave your children an inheritance.

In the meantime, the State must do everything it can to empower you. Today you are 27. In 10 years, you will still be only 37. If things don’t change now, those 10 years would have passed by in a flash, still leaving you vulnerable and struggling to make ends meet. Empowering you means giving you the opportunity to gain new skills and move on to higher paying jobs, or maybe even hold multiple jobs. It means that you can financially stand on your own feet. It means enabling your husband to get a good job to supplement your household income, and give your son a better life. 

Our efforts are geared towards making our country prosperous, so that wages can rise, and you and your peers can afford a better life. 

When I met you, you had tears in your eyes. Those were tears of uncertainty, hardship, and the weight of your responsibilities as a mother who wants to give her son a better life. The purpose of our endeavours is to erase the cause of your tears, to give you security, happiness and peace of mind. 

All our efforts are for you. Someday you may decide to have more children. Our efforts are also for them. With our small population, every child is a national treasure. Our objective here is to build a strong foundation and pave the way for your unborn children.

In this journey of nation building, just as the State has to play its part, I know that you too will do so.

Source: from Kuensel. For my future reference

 

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. 

 

I 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. 

IELTS – And – Me

Of late, Australia has become one of the easy destinations not only for educated but also for uneducated one. Therefore, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) has become a lifeline for aspiring individual. 

However, to me I never dreamt beyond this nation –I would like to be honest and work for this nation that has given me so much peace and happiness, including free education and medicare. Likewise, I would like to serve His Majesty and this nation with utmost dedication and integrity. For the longest time, my mind was never beyond the call of national interest. 

 

However, recently I was motivated to take this test along with hundreds others who are wishing for foreign dream. Initially, it came just that I really wanted to challenge myself and check my English status because it is required for every small task and all. I just wanted to try and raise my bar in this area because English is required in all spheres of life. 

Like any other fellow aspiring youth, I gave it a try after my brother insisted on me a number of times because he has seen teachers getting through so easily not only in test scores but also visa offers. It may be because they are nation builders and God must be merciful to this profession and individual. Therefore, to simply fulfill my brother's wish, I prepared for a few weeks in between my work and home and gave a test. 

On the test day, coming across a huge number mostly composed of young and energetic youth deeply worried me, who has all the power and ability to build this nation greater than anyone else in the world. 

Having lost in a pools of thoughts and some uneasiness within, it was a nice experience altogether, but on the other hand, we are steadily losing the young, talented, energetic and educated section of people to abroad for very genuine reasons, which for a small nation like ours is a big worry and a concern that matters so profoundly because active and productive citizen matter in the development process of the nation. I strongly feel that it is equally important for us to reflect upon our past and accordingly set system and policies of what went wrong and what can be done in such a critical moment. It is also time to really give a second thought on what lies with His Majesty's beautiful quote "what we lack in numbers, we must make up for in talent".  

With all kinds of feelings, unknown in the centre, with all faces hidden behind the mask, I gave my attempt that opened the window of foreign opportunity. The dazzling hall with around 300 people is making their way to the Australian dream. The supervising examiner made a brief announcement for the whole exam process and schedule. What amazed me more was the total number of test takers (672), which is a huge number for the population size of our country. I had my test after a hard and nerve wrecking 3 hours intense session. On the other hand, there was a moment where I just wanted to give up and run away for different reasons.

Having sweat for 3 long hours, or so, the dream of foreign land and minting dollars isn’t easy and forgiving. This could be one reason why most of our fellow Bhutanese become greedy and selfish for the fact that the process isn't easy and worth someone's selfishness. 

Let me share a few other thoughts that came to me while preparing and taking the test. Altogether, this test requires a different level of preparation and mentality since different approaches are being administered. At one point, I felt IELTS is more of a comprehension test and a time management skill.

One needs to be differently smart with a high tolerance level. Test takers must not only have the general idea and pattern of the test but also need to prepare a high level technique. Therefore, one's passion, practice and mindfulness are key to a good band score. 

In addition, those wishing to sit for a test can simply refer to a few authentic sources like Cambridge Test which are available online and some online tutorials. As one prepares for the exam, one must always adhere to a time bound setting test, need to be exceptionally good in listening skills, fast in comprehension, therefore, one must develop an english mind and eye for taking this test. I was suggested to have an Eagle eye and Dog ear! Nevertheless, someone comforted that it mostly depends upon sheer luck and indivisible force. Therefore, even at the scariest time, I learn to develop my English mind which comes at the cost of practice and passion. Nevertheless, scanning and skimming are the two important skills one need to possess for the test. The other important lesson I had was that one must not only develop a quick mindset in coordinating ideas and writing skills but also one needs to be relevant and clear to impress appraisers. Therefore, one must remember there is no room for a mistake –as one score can undo the whole result process and it costs you madly. 

With experience, I did not find much relevance in daily affairs and the testing mandates. For which listening test is only to check someone's listening power. Similarly, reading takes a very different approach as I felt more like a time management test and nothing more. On the other hand, writing and speaking tests are two different skill testing exams, first is organizing ideas and the latter is more of a confidence and expression test. 

However, there are things that I like very much about this testing system –some questions and conversations are too good to miss. Many different sections of comprehension like looking for heading, flowchart, synonyms, etc really gripped my attention that require a high level of focus and determination. I hope a few of our exams will be like such testing systems in the near future. And even more interesting was the quality of the answer paper. I wish such a quality of academic plan and process would be part of other academic affairs. 

This is one of the craziest tests I have appeared so far and would be remembered for many reasons hereafter.

Zero Waste Bhutan APP and Bhutanese

Source: google

With an online app and reporting system, there is a little hope and probably a last chance to realise waste and littering issues to fix. We must fix this issue at the earliest, more wholesomely than ever.

 

What does it mean by this online waste app? Did we fail to keep our surrounding litter-free? Does it talk about our poor waste discipline? Where have we gone wrong in this mission?

 

I have always been one of the avid advocates and social workers in this field for so long. One thing that so much that gripped me for the longest time is the work of waste, which I did so sincerely and wholeheartedly for the nation and most of us think that this is not a serious matter to discuss and many think that this issue can be solved on its own, which is wrong. I have never found this program to be effective and successful even with our educated section of society. Therefore, over the years, I lose my faith in the waste management campaign program taken up by different individuals and institutions. 

 

Every time I come across someone initiating or picking up someone's litter, I feel pity for them losing their precious time, energy and resources. 

 

Recently, I was part of the ongoing National Campaign on Zero Waste Bhutan App led by the District Environment Officer and his team. They hope to launch this online app on November 11. The day is so significant for Bhutanese people since it is a day to celebrate the Birth Anniversary of our beloved Great Fourth, which is a good day to start this national initiative. 

 

Due to my interest in this social area, I know quite a lot about waste management policies before I take refuge in front of the team. I know how to effectively manage my waste. However, listening to them wasn't anything new to me at least, because I am doing my part of managing whatever amount of waste I produce on my own so far without a single campaign and incentive –I am doing this as a concerned citizen. This is the simplest act to give back to the nation for all the privileges of free education and healthcare I have received without any denial.  Simplest thing I do on a daily basis is a small act of taking care of my waste. From the time I knew my existence, tiniest wrapper always goes in the right place. This is my fundamental duty!

 

As sweet as they claimed, it won't be any easy game, what lies ahead is still difficult, it is quite clear that -this national move would be tricky and challenging as we move forward, but our little contribution would be a game-changer. The simplest steps we must encourage and take in this endeavour is to educate our children at home consistently. Furthermore, framing a national curriculum on waste and littering programs at school and community with monitoring can be a turning point, otherwise, we are Bhutanese with our own Bhutanese instinct. 

 

Let me share one interesting program I came across in NHK World –a Japanese TV channel a few years back. I fell in love with that old lady who is said to be so addicted to organizing waste at home. She went on to explain how careful she acts when it comes to waste. What kept me so much close regarding the program was her humanness, mindfulness, rigor and consistency even at an age when most of our people retire back from life is what is different for a Japanese woman. This is simply an exemplary act of human beings. She has a separate dumping bin for –organic, dry and hazardous. What is more mesmerizing than this small act of goodness. Most of her kitchen waste goes back to the kitchen garden as organic manure and the rest of the bin goes to the right dumping truck. I feel this is a missing link here with us. 

 

Catch phrase of this app is so beautiful –Zero Waste Bhutan by 2030. How? Why so long? 

What is wrong with My Waste, My Responsibility, which has turned quite ominous and blind when we have many systems in place.

 

They have this crazy proposal of reducing disposal at landfill to 80%, but what and how is missing. Most of the sharing happened just that the nation is made to follow this online app but the pathway is ambiguous. However, waste management facilities such as drop off centres, waste collection facilities, facility maps and street litter bins are reassuring only if every single Bhutanese takes them with open heart, and sincerely for the cause of this great nation.

 

It is easier said than done, if not any other initiative –it is time to act in this national interest like no other program. Time is now!