Transfer of principals of community primary schools and primary schools will be decentralised to the Dzongkhag level from next academic session. Keeping in line with the government’s decentralisation policy the decision was taken during the 15th Annual Education Conference in Gelephu last week.
The policy was to strengthen professional relationship between the principals and the Dzongkhag Education Officers. This is also to facilitate the Dzongkhags to make informed decisions and provide further support.
“This is a good move by the Education Ministry and schools in remote areas will get efficient heads,” said Namgay Wangchuk, the Principal of Yabilaptsa Middle Secondary School
The Dzongkhag Education Officer of Trongsa, Tek Bahadur Subha, said that decentralisation policy would not mean that they would have all the power to work. “We would be working in close consultation with the Department.”
The selection would be conducted by the Ministry through open competition, while the Dzongkhags may recommend based on their professional performance record.
The Ministry will place the principals in the Dzongkhags from where they will be placed in schools based on the requirements.
However, the placement of the newly selected principals and intra-dzongkhag transfers of the principals, if required, would be co-ordinated and planned together.
“The policy is good because this will help us know the working environment in the Dzongkhags and enhance our system,” said Tshering Yangdon, DEO, Thimphu.
Those principals who served in remote schools and meet the transfer criteria would be given preference, according to the Ministry. There are also provisions of placing principals in their hometown but only on receiving a written request four years prior to their superannuation.
The officials said the transfers could be granted on health issues, genuine domestic problems and marital grounds, or on requirement of schools.
However, those transferred without having served the minimum required term or has applied for transfer will not be granted transfer benefits.
