Without a Higher Secondary School in Norgaygang Gewog in Samtse, residents have been sending their children to Tendruk Central School to continue their studies. Sending their children about 20 kilometres away from the gewog has not only worried the parents but also burdened the Central School with a large number of students. Concerned with the matter, during the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu, the local leaders said Sherabgatshel Lower Secondary School in the gewog, needs to be upgraded.
Sherabgatshel Lower Secondary School in Norgaygang is located to the extreme northwest of Samtse district.
Today, there are about 500 students studying in the school.
The school also provides a boarding facility for about 300 students.
For now, once students complete class 8 from Sherabgatshel school, most parents have to send their children away to various boarding schools at a very young age.
“Many children from very remote places from Norgaygang Gewog and beyond come here to study. Presently, students who pass class 8 go to Tendruk Central School which is also a highly populated school with more than 1600 students ranging from classes PP to 12,” said Ram Bhakta Sharma, Vice Principal of Sherabgatshel LSS.
The Norgaygang Gewog Administration during the recently held Dzongkhag Tshogdu requested for the up-gradation of the school.
“Residents of Norgaygang have repeatedly requested the concerned department and agencies to upgrade the Sherabgatshel school to middle secondary school but have not received any response from them. That is why the matter has been brought to the Dzongkhag Tshogdu. If the school is upgraded, then it will not only benefit the people of Norgaygang Gewog but also the residents of other gewogs,” said Norgaygang Mangmi Goley.
According to the District Education Sector, the up-gradation of Sherabgatshel and Sengdhyen Lower Secondary Schools was included in the 12th Five Year Plan of the education ministry.
“For a school to be upgraded we need to construct new classrooms, hostels, sporting facilities, multipurpose hall and many more. It is easy to upgrade a school but if these things are not there, then it will only add to the problem. That is why it will be very difficult to upgrade Sherabgatshel school in the current plan,” said Karma Sonam Chophel, the Chief Education Officer of Samtse.
The Dzongkhag Tshogdu however decided to write to the education ministry concerning the matter.
Constructed in the 1950s, Sherabgatshel Lower Secondary School is one of the oldest schools in Samtse district.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Tshering Zam
