Class eight and ten students of Tashithang Middle Secondary School in Samtse’s Tading Gewog have been without teachers for science and geography subjects for the first three months of the academic year. With these students preparing to take board examinations this year, parents are concerned.
Without dedicated chemistry, biology, information technology, and geography teachers at the recently upgraded Tashithang Middle Secondary School, students, especially those in classes eight and ten, are struggling.
The school has arranged for teachers from Dorokha to visit twice a month to help students with science and geography, but this effort has proven insufficient.
With time running out, students are struggling to cover the syllabus, worrying the parents.
“There is no science teacher, and the exams are approaching. We are worried for our children. The school lacks teachers and furniture. Many students failed last year. Not having a science teacher may have been the reason,” said Mon Maya Ghalley, a parent.
“Teachers were brought in from Dorokha to teach. Those teachers used to teach on Saturdays. It would be better if the government could look into the matter and send teachers soon,” said Dil Bdr Bhujel, another parent.
The issue was discussed at the recent Samtse Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
“There is no science teacher at Tashithang. We cannot say we do not want science exam during the board exams. The question paper for the board exam will be the same for everyone. So far, students would not have studied even two pages of those subjects,” said Yam Bahadur Ghalley, Tading Gup.
The principal district education officer, while acknowledging the problem, said that other schools in the district are also experiencing teacher shortages.
“We cannot get teachers as and when needed. We have to adhere to the RCSC regulations. The education sector tried to get science teachers through transfers and also sought to redeploy teachers who had previously resigned. Even then, we could not get teachers,” said Chhimi Tshewang, the Principal DEO.
He added that efforts are being made at the ministerial level to address the issue. The education ministry is in the process of recruiting more science teachers from India.
Meanwhile, six new contract teachers arrived recently, bringing relief to both students and parents.
The school administration is planning to conduct extra classes and will hold sessions on weekends to help cover the syllabus.
Currently, there are over 150 class eight students and more than 80 class ten students studying at Tashithang Middle Secondary School.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sherub Dorji
