Civil servants have existing procedures to appeal administrative decisions, but an independent Administrative Tribunal, which would provide a separate avenue to challenge such decisions, has yet to be established despite being provided for in the Constitution. Royal Civil Service Commission Commissioner Tshering Cigay said civil servants dissatisfied with decisions made …

Bhutan has no psychiatrist specialised in old-age mental health, even as the country’s ageing population is increasing and older persons account for a disproportionate share of depression and dementia cases. Presenting on “Caring for Bhutan’s Older Persons” at the Fourth PEMA Symposium, Dr Sonam Wangchuk, Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, JDWNRH, …

Students in Classes IX and XI are piloting Bhutan’s revised school curriculum this year using digital copies and printed chapter-wise materials, as the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) continues to develop and test the full textbooks before large-scale printing. A total of 143 textbook titles from Pre-Primary to …

A 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed his classmate at a school in Wangdue on 26th September. The Bhutanese contacted the school, where a school authority said the incident occurred during normal class timing. He said the students had become sleepy and asked the teacher if they could go outside to refresh …

Bhutan’s health workforce has expanded in recent years, with the number of doctors and nurses reaching their highest levels in seven years, according to the Annual Health Bulletin 2026. However, the number of Health Assistants (HAs) has declined from its 2021 peak. According to the bulletin, the number of doctors …

Australia has announced stricter visa rules for international students, including restrictions on bringing dependants, and tighter requirements for students seeking to extend their stay. The changes, announced on 17th September by Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, are part of the government’s efforts to increase control over migration and reduce …

Only 10 vacancies for B.Ed Primary Dzongkha graduates have been announced for the Bhutan Civil Service Examination (BCSE) 2026, despite 69 students graduating from the program this year. The Education Minister, Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa, said the number of vacancies is determined by the actual requirement for teachers in the …

Private tuition continues to be a concern as demand for supplementary academic support grows, particularly in urban areas, raising concerns about equal access for students from families who cannot afford additional tuition. The Education Minister, Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa, said that private tuition and other supplementary education services are regulated …

TB remains a concern among young adults, while respiratory and diarrhoeal illnesses account for most reported notifiable diseases Bhutan is seeing a growing number of health cases and a rising share of patients returning for continued care. The Annual Health Bulletin 2026 recorded 2.74 million health cases in 2025, a …

The nationwide dog sterilization and vaccination program will resume, and so will the cross-border surveillance and free access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after the World Health Organization (WHO) formally validated the country’s elimination of dog-mediated human rabies on 1st September. Health Secretary Pemba Wangchuk, said Bhutan’s achievement through the nationwide …