One of the oldest schools in the country, Panbari Primary School in Samtse has been upgraded to a Middle Secondary School. This has brought immense benefit to the residents of Tading Gewog. Before this upgrade, the absence of a larger school in the locality forced parents to send their children to distant schools, extending as far as Chhukha and Thimphu.
Located alongside the Samtse-Phuentshogling Highway, Panbari School was established in the 1960s. It was recently upgraded to a middle secondary school and will now be called Tashithang Middle Secondary School.
Until this upgrade, the parents had to send their children to schools in far-flung areas immediately after completing their primary education.
“Earlier, as soon as they completed their primary education from here, students had to go to schools in Taba Dramtoe and Dorokha. Despite graduating from primary school, some parents found these schools to be too far away, and others couldn’t afford it, leading to many students missing out on continuing their education,” said Thinley, Principal of Tashithang MSS.
The students of Tashithang Middle Secondary School are also overjoyed with the upgraded facilities.
“We are happy that we will no longer have to look for other schools as soon as we graduate from here. We can continue our education here only. Moreover, with the upgrade, we have more teachers now and it will further help us,” said Pelchen Tobden, a student.
“The upgrade will help parents from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who cannot afford to send their children to schools in distant places,” said Nob Gyeltshen, another student.
The school today has a new academic block, hostels which can accommodate 400 beds and staff quarters. However, the school currently lacks sports facilities, a proper mess facility and a multipurpose hall.
As of today, the school offers education up to class nine, but there are plans to introduce class ten in the next academic year.
Currently, Tashithang Middle Secondary School has about 650 students and 35 teaching and non-teaching staff members.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
