The country’s first full-fledged international school will be established at the erstwhile Kelki School campus in Thimphu. The school will be set up in partnership with EtonHouse International Education based in Singapore.
Officials say the school will primarily serve the children of expatriate professionals and experts working on national initiatives, including the Gelephu Mindfulness City. It will also be open to expatriate families already living in Bhutan and Bhutanese students seeking an international education pathway within the country.
According to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, the partnership agreement with EtonHouse International Education is in its final stages and expected to be signed soon.
EtonHouse International Education Group, one of Asia’s leading providers of international education headquartered in Singapore.
EtonHouse operates more than 100 schools across eight countries and educates over 25,000 students worldwide. In Singapore alone, its schools serve children from more than 60 nationalities.
Once the agreement is signed, the redevelopment of the Kelki campus will begin. The government has already allocated Nu 300 M as initial capital for construction and upgrades to meet international school standards.
Modern facilities including science laboratories, arts studios, sports facilities and internationally benchmarked learning spaces are expected to be developed as part of the redevelopment.
The school is expected to offer education from early childhood to higher secondary level, following EtonHouse’s curriculum aligned with the Cambridge framework. However, Bhutanese students will still be required to study Dzongkha and Bhutan history to ensure they remain connected to the country’s culture and values.
While the official tuition for the Thimphu campus has yet to be decided, EtonHouse’s international schools abroad typically charge between USD 27,000 and 40,000 per year. Bhutanese students, however, are expected to benefit from a concessional fee structure.
Officials say the initiative will not only broaden educational options within the country but also help position Bhutan to attract global talent and expertise in the years to come.
The erstwhile Kelki School was closed since the end of last year following a government directive to reclaim the school’s leased land for a national priority project.
Kinley Bidha
