There is no higher secondary school in Panbang Dungkhag under Zhemgang. As soon as the students in Panbang complete class 10, they have to move out of the Dungkhag, to pursue their education further. In the process, the parents have to incur huge expenses, sometimes even beyond their means.
Apart from the middle secondary school in Ngangla Gewog under Panbang Dungkhag, the dungkhag has only lower and primary schools.
“After the children finish class ten, they are given placement in other dzongkhags. It’s difficult to meet the expenses. It will be good if we have till class 12. It will minimise our expenses,” said Sangay Choden, a resident of Panbang Dungkhag.
Panbang Dungpa, Therchung Kencho, said they could not come up with a higher secondary school as the dungkhag did not have the number of required students. He said with the number of students increasing every year, a high school is viable.
People of Panbang had approached the gewog administration, expressing the need for a high school. The matter will be put up in the next Dzongkhag Tshogdu.