The government has decided to bring down the admission age for Pre-Primary (PP) students from six to five years starting this academic session. The decision was made following an official order from the Prime Minister’s Office.
This came at a time while the admission for class PP for the academic year 2020 is already completed. Schools have to now take in children who have completed their 5th birthday or will complete their 5th birthday before the new date of admission ends. The move is to align with the National Service or Gyalsung that would be instituted in the country by 2022. With this implementation, the ministry assumes the number of admissions to increase by around 8000 to the existing number.
“There might not be a problem in rural areas. But there sure is going to be problems in urban areas. There are not enough space to even fit in students who are 6 years of age and above. We also have a no exam policy from class PP to Three and we use formative assessment which is why we are required to keep fewer students and its equivalent ratio of teachers. So with additional enrolment, this is going to be a challenge,” said Jai Bir Rai, the Education Minister.
While he added that there are concerns over education quality being compromised, the ministry has already talked with concerned agencies to build new infrastructures and to recruit teacher assistants.
He, however, added that the enrolment age of five and above will be strict.
“This year, we will right away give them a deadline. For example, students of class pp have to go to school starting 13th February. We are looking at whether we should put a deadline till then or look at other conditions. We haven’t decided on it yet. After having decided on that, keep aside month or day, we wouldn’t even consider a second difference,” Lyonpo added.
The Ministry is positive that the 1,000 golden days plus programme by the Health Ministry and its continuation programmes like enrolling in Early Childhood Care and Development Centres by Education Ministry will help the children keep up with learning at an early age.
Samten Dolkar/Kinley Dem
