Located in a remote place of Trashi Yangtse, students of Tshangphuchen primary school in Toedtsho Gewog are now excited as they will be getting meals after mid-term. So far, students have to bring their own packed lunch.
Most of the students bring packed lunch but sometimes since most of the parents are farmers, it has been challenging to prepare meals on time.
“Every day my parents have to go for fieldwork. They get tired and cannot wake up early. So, there is no one to prepare a packed lunch. Without bringing packed lunch, sometimes we fall sick and it is inconvenient,” Dorji Wangchuk, a student at Tshangphuchen Primary School said.
“Our parents cannot wake up early. So while we prepare the packed lunch ourselves, it hampers our study time,” said Sonam Zangmo, also a student at the same school.
“They go for fieldworks and come late. They get so tired that they cannot wake up early. So while helping them in preparing the meal, it hampers our studies. another student,” Karma Wangchuk, added.
Sometimes, they come without packed lunch. While asking why they say they didn’t get time or parents are not at home. So there is no one to prepare it. Sometimes, they are late and have to rush without packed lunch, said Ugyen Penjor, the Principal of the school.
The school principal said without having proper meals, it has been challenging for students to concentrate in the class as well. Some of the students have to walk for an hour to reach the school.
“Without lunch, they cannot concentrate in class. Sometimes, they say, they are hungry and keep on asking whether it is time for lunch or not. Instead of concentrating in class, they keep thinking of lunch,” the principal added.
Some of the students need to walk more than an hour to reach the school. with such distance, many of them skip breakfast to reach the school on time. Soon all these problems are expected to ease. Students will be served breakfast and lunch from the school hereafter. There are 131 students in Tshangphuchen Primary School. Along with Tshangphuchen School, 8 other schools will be also getting such facilities.