As the highlanders of Soe Gewog celebrated the Jomolhari Festival last week, students of Soe Primary School had another reason to rejoice. Their school received a new water heating system. Soe Primary School also known as the “school among the snow leopards” now has a solar-powered water heating and supply system. The project hopes to make life more comfortable for its ten students in one of Bhutan’s coldest regions.
Located nearly 4,000 meters above sea level, the school sits at the base of Mount Jomolhari. With just two teachers caring for ten students, they often struggle with freezing temperatures.
The teachers said they sometimes provide the children with heated water from their bukhari (wood-burning stoves) for washing, but on most days, the students have to use icy water. This, they noted, often discourages the children from washing altogether, making it difficult to maintain proper hygiene.
“Earlier, our water pipes would often freeze and get blocked. We had to pour hot water over them or leave the taps slightly open to keep the water flowing. The new system will really help during winter,” said Jigme Tenzin, a teacher of Soe Primary School.
The new system provides warm running water to the school’s toilets and bathrooms, easing a daily struggle that most students in lower altitudes never have to face.
“Before, we had to wash our hands with cold water whenever we stayed back for extra classes. Now, with the solar water heater, we can wash our hands with warm water—it feels so much better,” said Tandin Lham, a student.
Jigme Tenzin, another student said, “Until now, we always washed our hands and faces with cold water at school. Having warm water now makes it much easier and more comfortable to stay clean.”
The school faces harsh winters and limited access to basic services. The gewog officials said that the solar water system is a small but meaningful step that has changed the way students experience school life.
“Now, students and teachers will have access to warm water at all times. It will help them wash up more comfortably and even clean their clothes when needed. This will definitely make the school environment much more comfortable,” said Galay Phuntsho, Soe Gewog’s Administrative Officer.
With a budget of around Nu 800,000, the system was installed under the Performance-Based Climate Resilient Grant project by the Department of Local Governance, and aims to improve everyday living conditions in remote communities.
As winter approaches, students and teachers at Soe Primary School feel more prepared and at ease thanks to a system that brings not just water, but also, warmth and hygiene.
Karma Samten wangda
Edited by Phub Gyem
