Following reports on concerns raised by Dzongkha Contract Teachers and Dzongkha Regular Contract Teachers, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has denied allegations that teachers had their contracts shortened before completion. Teachers earlier had claimed that several experienced Dzongkha teachers, including some with Post Graduate Diploma in Education …

Thrimshing-Kangpar MP Damche Tenzin pointed out that under Pledge No. 4 of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) manifesto, the government committed to ensuring that every Gewog Health Center is staffed with one doctor and adequate health personnel, including at least one female health worker. The MP said that more than …

Last year, the National Assembly (NA) adopted the Amendment to the Reservation on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) during the 7th Sitting of the Fourth Parliament, following objections raised by 11 countries to Bhutan’s reservations on certain provisions of the Convention.  The reservations of the …

When the Class 12 results of 2022 and 2023 were declared, many students from Arts backgrounds found themselves facing limited opportunities for higher education following the sudden removal and reduction of Arts courses in colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB). At the time, this paper reported that students …

Last year, the cut-off point for the Preliminary Examination (PE) of the Bhutan Civil Service Examination (BCSE) saw an unexpected revision.  While the usual benchmark is 50 percent, the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) announced on the day of result declaration that the PE pass mark had been raised to …

Bhutan’s unemployment rate currently stands at 16.5 percent, but the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) says that for a small country like Bhutan, the focus should be on the actual number of unemployed youths rather than percentages alone. Speaking during the parliamentary session, the MoICE Minister Lyonpo Namgyal …

Kengkhar-Weringla MP Dorji Wangmo, during the question-and-answer session of the 6th sitting of Parliament, raised concerns over Bhutan’s declining birth rate and its wider demographic implications. The MP also highlighted that the Government’s proposed Third Child Incentive Programme of Nu 10,000 per month has reportedly been put on hold, pending …

The Good Governance Committee (GGC) Chairperson, Lhendup Wangdi, deliberated on the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the resolution concerning the MAX System and Bell Curve Method during the 4th Sitting of the Fifth Session of the Fourth Parliament. According to the GGC, under the MAX System, a bell curve is …

The Social and Cultural Affairs Committee (SCAC) of the National Council (NC) observed that the Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010 does not adequately address emerging tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, vapes, and electronic nicotine delivery systems, which are becoming increasingly popular among youth aged 15-24. As a result, the …

During the parliamentary session, Pemagatshel MP Dr Jamyang Namgyal raised concerns over the low participation of the youth in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, and questioned how well the courses are aligned with global job market demands. The MP said that although there are various skills training …