Inadequate learning space worries teachers

Feb 26, 2014

Teachers of Gelephu Lower Secondary School are worried that the cramped classrooms are going to hamper the students learning process. About 50 students are cramped up in a single classroom given the inadequate classrooms.

A teacher, Sangay Peldon, said they have students who are fast learners and there are those who need time to grasp what is being taught in the classroom. “Those who are slow at learning need special attention. If we had smaller number of students we could give them more time.”

Another teacher, Yangden said the ratio of teacher to student is supposed to be 1:36.  “But this year, we have 1:57.” She said they may soon see an increase. “How will we be able to give attention to individual students?”

The problem is not new. The school had come up with their own solution. They had converted the old dining hall into class rooms.

The Principal, Kinzang Dorji, said as per the contract terms the new classrooms was supposed to be complete and handed over to the school by mid 2013. “We had great hopes.” He said once the six-unit building gets completed, their problem will be solved right away.

He further added inadequate infrastructure is one of the reasons why they have not upgraded the lower to middle secondary even though it is reflected in the Education Ministry’s plan.