Despite the recent upgrade of Tashithang Middle Secondary School at Tading Gewog in Samtse, students and staff face significant challenges due to the lack of a proper dining hall and multipurpose hall, affecting both their daily routines and extracurricular activities.
While the upgradation brought joy to parents in Tading and nearby gewogs, it also introduced new challenges.
Previously, the school struggled with a shortage of STEM teachers, inadequate furniture, and incomplete facilities such as the science laboratory and library. Although these issues have been addressed to some extent, a fresh obstacle has emerged, the absence of essential infrastructure such as a multipurpose hall and a proper dining facility.
Currently, students are often forced to eat outside, exposed to harsh weather, as the small, old dining hall near the mess can only accommodate a fraction of the students, leading to overcrowding.
The issue was raised during the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu session, where Tading Gup Yam Bdr Ghalley expressed concerns about the situation.
“Tading Gewog experiences frequent rain, making it difficult for students to have their meals without a proper dining hall. Some parents have contributed tarpaulins to build temporary shelters for the children. It’s also challenging to conduct meetings or events without a multipurpose hall, and students miss out on opportunities to showcase their talents due to the lack of such a facility at the school.”
In response, the district education officer acknowledged the problem and shared that the construction of these facilities has been included in the 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP). However, concerns about the limited budget allocated this time have left authorities uncertain about when the much-needed infrastructure can be built.
Chhimi Tshewang, Principal DEO said “We have prioritised the construction of the multipurpose and dining hall, but given the current financial constraints, we don’t think we will be able to proceed with the construction this year. We hope for more budget allocation next year.”
The gup also expressed disappointment in the school not obtaining the central school status, which would have ensured that these facilities were built sooner.
However, the Dzongkhag Tshogdu decided to submit a detailed report to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, requesting additional funds for the construction of these vital facilities.
With the recent addition of class ten, the school’s enrollment has surged to over 730 students, intensifying the need for better infrastructure.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Kipchu
