Schools across the country will begin academic sessions next week, but almost 300 students in Phuentshogling Thromde have yet to secure admission. With limited seats available, the four thromde schools are overwhelmed with admission pressure. Many children without schools are those whose parents were transferred to Phuentshogling this year.
The Phuentshogling Thromde has been requesting the government for one or two new schools for several years, but this plan has yet to materialise.
Currently, the thromde has two primary schools and two high schools. About 100 children aged five and above were unable to secure admission into pre-primary.
Similarly, over 170 students could not get admission across classes one to 12.
Many of these students belong to families of civil servants and members of the armed forces who have recently been transferred to Phuentshogling.
“We have long requested the government for the construction of two schools in Pekarzhing and Pasakha. Even according to the thromde’s local area plan, we require additional schools. The plan projects the growth of the population, indicating the necessity for six schools in the thromde. However, as of now, our country’s second main city only has four schools,” said Uttar Kumar Rai, Phuentshogling Thrompon.
With numerous genuine cases of students unable to secure admission, the Phuentshogling Thrompon said that all available measures to accommodate them have been exhausted.
As a temporary solution, the thromde is trying to get detachable containers from the education ministry to serve as additional classrooms.
However, if the plan for detachable containers fails, students may face further challenges in securing admission.
“If we do not utilise these containers, I am uncertain about the fate of these students. Where will we accommodate them, or are we going to allow them to drop out this year? We are at a loss regarding what to do with those who could not secure seats. I believe the ministry should provide guidance on how to proceed,” said Phuentshogling Thrompon.
Many parents, who declined to appear on camera, expressed frustration over their efforts to secure admission for their children.
They reported running between the thromde office and schools to get admission, fearing their children may not secure seats this year.
Thromde education officials said that the reclassification of two schools as high schools and two as primary schools has contributed to the admission pressure.
Previously, two of the thromde schools offered classes from pre-primary to grade 10, while one provided education from pre-primary to grade 12, and the other from pre-primary to grade eight.
Kinley Dem, Phuentsholing
Edited by Sherub Dorji
