The Ministry of Education and Skills Development has decided to discontinue Media Studies in the Arts and Humanities curriculum from next year. This has left class XI and XII students worried. However, the School Curriculum Division under the ministry said that the discontinuation would allow students to focus and develop academic skills.
Media Studies was started as an optional subject for Arts and Humanities students in 2015.
However, the ministry’s decision to discontinue the subject has been met with concerns from the students who see it as limiting their educational and career options. They said that their options and opportunities have become limited over the years.
‘‘I felt very shocked to hear this sudden information. My reaction or my opinion about this decision is that in our education system, the opportunity provided for the students is decreasing,’’ said Kezang Jigmi Yoezer, a student of Yangchenphug HSS.
‘‘If media is discontinued from next year, I think I would be jobless after my studies. This has worried me a lot. Even for the juniors, I felt sad because they said that they are interested in media and that from next year they are saying that they want to go for media studies, however, it would be like snatching away a great opportunity from them,’’ said Tshering Tsheyang, another student of Yangchenphug HSS.
‘‘It is really disheartening that Media Studies is soon going to be discontinued. So, I feel like the education system or the government should approach the students who have been taking media for two years or so,’’ said Tandin Wangmo, a student of Motithang HSS.
On the other hand, one of the teachers teaching Media Studies said that discontinuing the subject might encourage students to take Economics, which she thinks offers more promising career prospects.
‘‘In my perspective, I have mixed feelings because if media is discontinued I think the students will have to take Economics and they have better scope in finding a job in the future if they take Economics,’’ said Tshewang Dema, a teacher of Motithang HSS.
Meanwhile, the officiating chief of the School Curriculum Division said that they decided to discontinue Media Studies to streamline the number of subjects offered in classes XI and XII and help students focus more on academics. The officiating chief also said this is to enhance the “academic rigour” of students.
In addition, the chief added that the shortage of teachers teaching Media Studies also contributed to the decision to discontinue the subject. Currently, Media Studies is taught by English teachers in schools and the decision is also taken to reduce the burden on them.
Similarly, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development has also decided to discontinue other optional subjects such as Agriculture for Food Security and Environmental Science from next year.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Sonam Pem
