The education ministry will move about 900 students of classes IX to XII and 75 teachers and supporting staff from Phuentshogling thromde to a private institute at Phadhuna in Punakha by August 15. Phaduna is about eight kilometres from Punakha along the Punakha-Gasa highway.
The ministry decided to relocate the students so that their studies are not hampered.
Unlike the last relocation, students and teachers this time will be relocated to one school instead of different schools in Punakha.
The three schools which are Phuentshogling Higher and Middle Secondary Schools and Sonamgang Middle Secondary School will function as one independent boarding school in Phaduna.
“This year in Phaduna we have hostels for both girls and boys. So, in that sense, it’s going to be very convenient. There will be dining facilities, other facilities. So, this time because of the experience from last year, things are going to be taken care of much better than last year,” said Karma Galay, the Director General of the department of school education under the education ministry.
Currently, workers are giving the finishing touch on hostel rooms. The ministry plans to keep everything ready by August 10.
Both students and teachers will be quarantined in the school for two weeks followed by a COVID test. The ministry has arranged 83 buses to transport students and teachers.
Since the lockdown on April 17, students have been continuing lessons online.
“Other dzongkhags are way more ahead than us and here we are stuck with online classes in which we cannot learn anything. So, I think relocation is the only solution” said Sonam Choki, a student in Phuentshogling.
“When I first went to Punakha last year, it was difficult. I was sad. But this time we are prepared and I feel it won’t be hard like last time,” said Kuenga Dendup, another student.
Meanwhile, the education ministry will explore ways so that the relocated class X and XII students get adequate time to prepare for the board exams.
“If they don’t get an adequate amount of time to prepare, it will be biased against them. They will be disadvantaged. We haven’t yet decided but maybe towards the end, we will have to sit and try and see what kind of level playing field we need to give them, maybe that would be in terms of delaying the exam a little bit. But we haven’t decided and is being thought about right now,” said Karma Galay.
Meanwhile, two private high schools, Yonten Kuenjung and Norbu Academy will continue operating in containment mode. Similarly, students of classes IX and X of Chumithang Middle Secondary School started operating in containment mode starting this week.
However, classes PP to VIII will continue their lessons online.
The relocation is expected to cost the government over Nu 33 M. It includes the cost of procurement and transportation of bunk beds, dining tables and chairs, kitchen and dining utensils among others.
Sonam Pem
