The Phuentshogling Thromde is to have a new high school under the current Five Year Plan. Some Thromde school principals, however, feel that the need for a primary school is greater than a high school.
The issue was raised at the recent Thromde School Principal’s conference. Some principals shared that there is the need for primary school due to the increasing number of school going children in that group in Phuentshogling.
“Many corporations and private organisations are coming up and also at the same time we have many armed force and police personnel living here. Because of that, the population is increasing and we have maximum pressure in the primary sections,” said the Principal of Phuentshogling Lower Secondary School, Tshewang Rinzin.
He also said according to the figures, they have more students in primary sections than higher classes.
One of the principals shared that with primary classes clubbed with higher classes, wholesome education including the development of leadership qualities is compromised. The principal said it is the senior students in the schools who are given such responsibilities and not the younger lot. Another principal pointed out that if possible, Phuentshogling needs both primary and high schools.
The Thromde Education officer, Lhama Tshering, said, they had initially proposed both primary and high schools, but due to budget constraints, priority was accorded to a high school.
“If we are having a primary school then we cannot have the senior level but if we have a higher secondary school, then we can absorb the junior level as well. That school will have classes from PP to 12 and not just classes 9 to 12.”
The Thromde Education officer also said that the proposal for a new Primary school will be discussed during the mid-term review of the current Five Year Plan.
There are more than 4,100 students studying in four government schools and about 600 students in two private schools in Phuentshogling.
