More than 30 principals will be deployed to the schools across the country with over a hundred students. The Education Minister also informed the House that the recruitment of substitute teachers for voluntary resignation, death, and contract termination during the academic session without waiting for a regular appointment has been approved by the Royal Civil Service Commission. The Member of Parliament (MP) of Maenbi Tsaenkhar, Choki Gyeltshen, raised the issue of teachers and principals shortages in schools during the question-answer session of the National Assembly today.
According to MP Choki Gyeltshen, the quality of education is compromised by the shortages of teachers and principals in many schools across the country.
“All parents want quality education for their children. This is also our concern. However, many schools don’t even have a principal. Without a principal, the management of a school won’t be smooth. Similarly, there is a teacher shortage in many schools. There is no way of achieving quality education without enough teachers,” said the MP.
The lack of teachers and principals in many schools was highlighted during the National Assembly today. To which the Education Minister said, more than thirty principals will be deployed to the schools above 100 students by July. He also added, the recruitment of substitute teachers for voluntary resignation, death or demise, and contract termination during the academic session without waiting for a regular appointment has been approved by RCSC.
Education Minister Jai Bir Rai said officiating principals, in schools where there are no principals, are shouldering the responsibilities commendably. Lyonpo said the ministry is aware of this and will soon address the issue.
“In May, we have made a vacancy announcement for principals. We are monitoring properly the selection of the principals as they are the head of the schools. The RCSC in collaboration with Education Ministry is still going through the recruitment process. And soon we are hopeful we can send 33 principals to the schools by July. We have sent 321 B.Ed graduates from Samtse and Paro College. By July we will have 193 PGDE graduates. For those who have gone on EOL and maternity leave; for time being we will recruit teachers on consolidated contact,” said Lyonpo.
Lyonpo said one of the reasons for the teacher shortage is because of bringing down the age criteria of PP admission from six years of age to five. The increase in enrollment has burdened the teacher-student ratio triggering teacher shortage.
Kelzang Choden/ Kinzang Lhaden/ Sonam Pem
