The recent directive the office of the Prime Minister issued asking the Education and Skills Development Ministry to study the feasibility of letting schools remain closed on Saturdays came as good news for some teachers. A few teachers BBS talked to expressed their excitement over the news adding that they are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the feasibility study. Following the directive, the ministry says works are in progress and has yet to unveil any decision.
Some teachers across the country have been delighted by the news ever since the Prime Minister’s Office issued the directive to the ministry to study the viability of keeping Saturday as an off day for the schools.
Though nothing has been decided yet with works still in progress, teachers expressed how things will become for them if Saturdays can be kept as an off day.
“Since last year itself, we heard some rumours about Saturdays being kept as an off day for the schools. Even these rumours made us feel so content. If Saturday is kept as an off day it will not only benefit the teachers but the students as well. We can have family time and also do personal work. Currently, we have to take leave for personal work,” said Karma Yangzom, a teacher at Jigme Namgyel Lower Secondary School in Thimphu.
“If Saturday is kept as an off day then firstly there will be time to work efficiently and refresh ourselves. We can get a good amount of time to do other things. When we go to school on Saturdays, half of the day is spent in school and we get only half a day at home, leaving us with only Sunday for ourselves,” added another teacher Sonam Tenzin.
“From my experience, most teachers take leave as they have to go for health checkups. Even here, there are two to three teachers on leave every day which affects the school. If Saturday is kept an off day, they can use the day to avail themselves of the service. Moreover, giving teachers two days off provides them with enough time to rest and come well-prepared and motivated for the week ahead,” said Tashi Dendup, the Vice Principal of Jigme Losel Primary School in Thimphu.
“It’s a time to re-energise ourselves and also plan the teaching aids and the lessons. Also, we can spend time with family at home,” said Dorji N, the Vice principal of Zhemgang Primary School.
According to the officials from the ministry, the work to study the feasibility of leaving Saturdays as an off day is in progress. The officials added that the ministry will prepare and submit the report to the Prime Minister by the end of this month.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Phub Gyem
