Prime Minister, Dr Lotay Tshering, said enrolling all class ten passed students into government and private higher secondary schools is a historic move to invest in youth of the country.
Prime minister was speaking at the Friday Meet with media persons, held at Gyalyong Tshogkhag (parliament house) in the capital.
Responding to the concerns raised by the opposition party at a recent press conference, Lyonchhen clarified that the move will not deplete the government coffer. Or result in wastage of national resources.
The enrolment of all class ten passed students would cost the government over Nu 130 M every year. But this is nothing to worry about, says the prime minister.
“I feel it will not be a loss to invest on the continuity of the education for Bhutanese youth, rather it will be profitable for us in a long run. For a hydropower project, we are borrowing Nu 100 bn from other countries but that is fine,” prime minister said, adding: “But when we invest in our youth, people make noise saying it will have serious impact on the economy. I am disheartened.”
Prime minister further commented that this initiative is also a historic move to revolutionise education system, which is also in line with the Constitution.
“Please don’t worry about the move being unconstitutional. We have read the Constitution and it doesn’t defy the mother of all laws. If we go against the law, Supreme Court is there to keep an eye on us. And if it issues us writ then we will gracefully accept our mistake.”
Furthermore, prime minister shared that like many other government pledges, this pledge to eliminate cut-off point for class ten exams and providing free education till class 12 is not included in the 12th Five-Year-Plan.
However, the prime minister confidently said all these pledges will be fulfilled during the government’s five-year term.
“We will manage financial resources to provide government scholarships to all class ten passed students to enroll in private schools. It is the same with other pledges not reflected in 12th plan.”
Over 12,000 students passed the class exams this year. Of that, 7,800 are to be taken by the government schools.
The remaining 4,225 will study in private schools on government scholarships.
While the placement of students in the government schools will be done immediately, the same for students in the private schools will be announced on 8 February.
