Half the students of four chiwogs studying at the Sergithang Primary School under Tsirang Dzongkhag still walk at least six hours every day to school and back. People in Sergithang complain that the District Education Sector has not reacted to this situation.
Thirteen years old twins, Nima and Dawa, both in the sixth standard, rush to be on time for breakfast served at 7 am at the school. They begin their journey at 5:30 in the morning. The quickest student takes two hours to get to the school.
Nima and Dawa reach school just a few minutes ahead of breakfast. The Sergithang Primary School has no boarding facilities but provides breakfast and lunch to its students through the World Food Programme.
Like Nima and Dawa, 160 other students out of the 248 in Sergithang Primary School walk for six hours daily. Teachers at the school say a hostel facility is needed urgently. A teacher even shared with BBS that the overall performance of those students who walk from afar has been affected by the daily exertion. “Students living nearby can concentrate better in class as they are more relaxed than the others who walk long-distance,” said Nidup Dorji, a teacher of Sergithang Primary School.
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Nima, Dawa and other students leave their school at about 4 pm. A three hour uphill walk awaits them after school. These students reach home around 7 pm and as soon as they get home, they take off their uniforms and go directly to bed.
Nima and Dawa’s parents worry about their children’s safety when walking to and fro from school as they have to walk through the forest. Tandin Tshewang, the father of the twins says it would be beneficial for all students of Sergithang Gewog, if the government could arrange boarding facilities at the school. He also said this had been shared with the District Education Office, but nothing had been done so far.
Meanwhile, officials from the district education office say that by 2014, even the two meals provided by the WFP at the Sergithang Primary School will be stopped by the government. The officiating district education officer has said that there are no plans for boarding facilities as well.
Sergithang Primary School established in 1965 is situated in Sergithang Gewog which is among the most remote gewogs in Tsirang.
