The parents of class X passed students were in a state of confusion when the online registration for admission in private schools opened on April 18 and closed the very next day. The registration was initially supposed to remain open for five days.
The Education Ministry reopened the online registration again on Wednesday and then closed on Thursday. According to the ministry, the registration closed down automatically after the number of applicants reaches 2,000. There are only 1,800 seats available in private schools.
“There were 2,000 applicants the next day before 7 pm. So, the registration automatically got closed. When we tried to contact the applicants, it was due to lack of understanding, fear that they might miss out on their admission in class XI, some took it as an opportunity and some thought the registration was for both government and private schools,” said Dorji Wangchuk, the Chief Programme Officer for Private School Division.
The online registration will remain closed now. The applicants for private schools will be shortlisted according to the intake capacity of the schools and availability of courses. The needy will also be prioritised. They also need to maintain a good teacher-student ratio and a class size of 34 students.
More than a thousand parents and children were at the Babesa Higher Secondary School in Thimphu for admission in government schools. More than 12,000 class X students passed the examination this year. And all of them will get admission this time in government and private schools.
“Around 10,574 students will be absorbed in government schools. The rest 1,800 students will be given the government scholarship in private schools. The southern Dzongkhags and Thromde; around five Dzongkhags and a thromde are doing online placement for class XI due to the pandemic situation,” the Chief Programme Officer for Private School Division added.
They will be the last batch of class X passed students who are being enrolled in private schools on a government scholarship. From next year, all students will be admitted to government schools.
Kinzang Lhadon
