People’s Democratic Party (PDP) calls on the government to direct private and government colleges in the country to take in students to their fullest capacity. The party posted a news release on its official Facebook page today recommending the government take measures to ensure high school graduates are provided the opportunity to pursue further studies.
The news release mentions that around 9000 high school graduates are left without a clear path to further their education. Of around 12,500 high school graduates only 3500 are enrolled in various colleges this year.
“These are all those students who have scored over 70 per cent who under normal circumstances would have easily got opportunities to pursue higher studies. While we acknowledge the fact that this is due to pandemic we believe that the government should not put all the blame on the pandemic not be able to do other things which are very important,” said Tshering Dorji, party representative.
The party says that the government should coordinate with colleges and institutions abroad where the pandemic situation has improved. The party also recommended the government prepare the country’s Vocational and Technical Institutes to accept students interested in the area.
“While the students are waiting around, we believe that the government must organize meaningful programs to keep them engaged instead of just letting them hang around and wait around with a lot of worries and concerns. And for class 12 students who have failed, I am sure there are thousands of them, we believe that the government must create opportunities for them to get training on skills which will enable them to get jobs,” said the party representative.
According to the party, the government should have prepared for such circumstances and taken measures ahead of time as the COVID pandemic has been going on for two years. The party also goes on to say that the government should have also known that the first batch of students promoted to class 11 without meeting the cut-off point would graduate from class 12 this year.
Pema Seldon Tshering
