The Jakar Rabdey in Bumthang has been without an English teacher for a couple of months now. Until the mid of last year they had a contract teacher. The teacher left after the contract period of over one year ended in mid-last year.
Following a circular issued by His Holiness the Je Khenpo to introduce English classes in all the Rabdeys, a contract teacher was sent to Jakar Rabdey in 2009 by the Ministry of Education and the Central Monastic Body funded by the UNICEF.
The Lam Neten of the Rabdey said it has become necessary for the monks to learn English in this day and age.“For example when the tourists come to Bhutan, the first place they visit is the Dzong. So when they put up question regarding the culture and when the Dzong was built we cannot give an answer. That is why learning English I feel has become really necessary for the monks.”
The Jakar Rabdey was established in late 1990s and has thirty monks as of now.