The Education Ministry began the drafting of the National Education Policy in 2009. It’s been some eight years now and the policy has not been finalised yet.
National Council, in its winter session, recommended the ministry to expedite the approval of the policy. The recommendation was made keeping in view the importance of the policy in providing strategic direction and effective implementation of education programmes.
In its response to the National Council’s recommendation, the education ministry had shared that a drafting committee was formed in 2016 to review and finalise the draft policy. But there was no mention of when the ministry will be able to finalise the policy.
Wanting to know what is taking the ministry so long to finalise the policy, the National Council today posed the question to the education minister. The National Council also pointed out that the ministry has been implementing programmes with far reaching implications even as the draft national education policy is being worked on.
Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk, in response, said the ministry is still working on the draft policy. He said they are working on consolidating all existing policies and guidelines on education to complement the National Education Policy.
In its response to the National Council’s recommendation, the education ministry had shared that the drafting committee was formed to review and finalize the draft policy as recommended by the DEO Conference and the National Curriculum Conference held last year.
The committee comprises representatives from schools, Dzongkhags, the Royal Education Council (REC), Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessment (BCSEA) and the ministry.
The committee is to review the previous draft National Education Policy 2014, 1984, 1974, and the National Education Framework 2012 as part of efforts to finalise the draft National Education Policy. The recommendations of the DEO Conference and the National Curriculum Conference are also to be reviewed.
