Many teachers continue to leave their profession. Of the 300 requests for teachers from around the country, 190 were for the replacement of those who left the profession, this year alone.
A former teacher, Tshering Wangchen said it is the lack of leadership in education system that is making teachers quit.
“Because, if the leaders are not strong and capable enough, I don’t think we can run a system, a very important system like education system,” he said.
Tshering Wangchen also said many teachers are not able to cope up with the new system, which he believes, is uncompromising in nature.
He said the teachers have to multi-tasks which add up to the pressure.
On the other hand, the ministry’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Kinley Gyeltshen said they have teacher career path under Human Resource Policy 2014 to retain teachers in schools.
Under the policy, a teacher can get promoted up to Executive Specialist Level which is at par with that of a government’s secretary level. Earlier, they could get promoted only up to Position One Level.
“…When compared with other civil servants, in order to retain the bright and the brightest in the teaching system, we have teacher incentives which are totally different from other civil servants.”
He added the ministry is also providing short and long term study opportunities to teachers in the remote areas.
The ministry says they will require only about 194 teachers for the next five years.
Meanwhile, a few dzongkhags still have teacher shortage. Some schools follow multi-grade system where students from various grades are clubbed together and are taught by a single teacher.
But, the education ministry maintains there is no shortage of teachers.
Education ministry’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Kinley Gyeltshen said they have recruited 603 teachers, including those on contract between February and March, this year.
“Some dzongkhags might be having teacher shortage because there are cases of teachers not being medically fit and they have to stay close to district general hospital.”
He said another reason could be marital issues. He said the teachers would want to be where their spouses are.
