The residents of Dawathang-Kungaling chiwog under Tendu Gewog in Samtse want Dzongsar Primary School to be upgraded to Lower Secondary School with a boarding facility. They believe this would help with hostel congestion in Tendruk Central School.
Located just above the Sibsu-Tendu Secondary National Highway, Dzongsar Primary School under Tendu Gewog today serves as the only primary school in the chiwog.
Without a boarding facility, some of the students have to walk for more than four hours from their village to reach school every day.
“It becomes increasingly difficult for parents to send their children to school during monsoon and other harsh weather. One of the parents has to always look for vehicles or take their children to school every day,” said Jigme Choden, a Resident of Dzongsar.
Once the children complete their primary school, they are sent to Tendruk Central School.
Arun Kumar Rai, a parent said, “As soon as they complete their primary education here, they go to different boarding schools. They are away from us and they have the freedom to do anything. That’s where most of our children get spoiled.”
The parents say they have been requesting the local leaders and school administration to upgrade the Primary School to a lower secondary school in numerous meetings.
Arun Kumar Rai added, “Since Tendruk Central School is already burdened with a huge number of students, not every child can get hostel facility. Some of them have to stay as day scholar students by renting a house. This only makes education more expensive. If we get our school upgraded and make our children stay with us until they reach class eight, I think we can give them proper guidance and groom them well.”
Deepa Rai who is also a parent said, “Since most of the children are very young, some of the parents rent small apartments in Tendu to look after their children. Parents do have to sacrifice a lot. We would be grateful if the government help us in upgrading our school at least to lower secondary school or make a hostel facility available at Dzongsar.”
The gewog administration says the up-gradation will not only benefit three villages of the gewog but also a few other villages of Pemaling gewog.
“I feel the request for the up-gradation of Dzongsar Primary School is genuine given the problems faced by various parents. Moreover, the location is good and convenient with the school located just in the heart of the village. And the road and the BHU are also nearby,” Tendu Gup Nima Drukpa said.
Since Dzongsar Primary School has about 150 students, the school is not eligible for up-gradation.
As per the education policy, a school will need to have about 300-400 students for it to be upgraded. Moreover, a primary school can only be upgraded to a Middle Secondary or Higher Secondary School, not to a lower secondary school.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sangay Chezom
