The Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessments, BCSEA is working on getting the University of Oxford’s recognition for Bhutan’s class X and XII certificates. BCSEA says the recognition is important for Bhutanese students who want to study abroad. Currently, these certificates face acceptance challenges from the University of Oxford and other international institutions.
Previously, Bhutanese high schools were affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations conducting Indian Certificate of Secondary Education for class X and Indian School Certificate for class XII.
However, BCSEA introduced the Bhutan Certificate of Secondary Education for class X in 2001 and the Bhutan Higher Secondary Certificate for class XII board exams in 2006.
Despite receiving letters of equivalency from the Central Board for School Examination, CBSE in India, Bhutanese students still encounter difficulties in getting accepted to prestigious colleges, including the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
The recognition would not only benefit Bhutanese students applying to Oxford University but also eliminate the need for them to undergo a one-year foundation course, saving costs.
“It will be paving the way for the future Bhutanese who wish to study at Oxford University. Since Oxford University is recognized by all other universities, if we get recognised by them, then we will be recognised by other universities too,” said Sherab Gyeltshen, Examination and Assessment Officer.
After getting direction from the Central Board for School Examination, BCSEA is working towards getting recognition by approaching a UK-based agency called UK ENIC.
“General secretary of the CBSE directed us to contact the regional manager of the Cambridge Assessment of International Education who then directed us to contact the UK ENIC, the European Network of Information Center which is the UK-designated agency for the recognition of the international qualification and works on behalf of the UK government,” added Sherab Gyeltshen.
The process of seeking recognition began in August last year. And according to the BCSEA, if successful, it may also exempt Bhutanese students from taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), when studying abroad.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sonam Pem
