The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The government will encourage the establishment of colleges in Bhutan, especially involving the private sector. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, during the last monthly Meet-the -Press session in Thimphu, said the colleges must meet the quality standards.
PM said thousands of the Bhutanese students are studying in the colleges abroad, especially in India. “Some of them are not studying in the world’s best colleges so there is an urgency to bring them back home, and at least to give a better education in our country, and if not for that, at least to keep the money within the country,” Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said.
PM said there are economic opportunities in starting colleges which can be taken up by the private sector. “We would like to encourage private sector and support it to establish the colleges in the eastern part of the country that is our preferred option,” he added.
PM also stressed on the need for
quality in education. “When we start colleges, they better be of a right quality because if they are going to be as poor as some of the colleges that our students are studying in, it would bring shame to us.”
PM said there is a possibility to start college in Deothang, and Yonphula in Kanglung. “Our vision is to create Kanglung as an education hub of the highest quality. Yonphula will definitely play a role in it,” the Prime Minister said.
The Education Minister, Mingbo Dukpa, said the ministry is still working on the proposal. “We have not yet decided, neither the location nor the area of specialization, but a few proposals have come in and we are still reviewing those proposals, but we haven’t still made a final assessment,” Education Minister said.
He said the ministry is still working on it, and before the end of the 11th FYP, there should be a plan laid for establishing colleges in the northern, southern, eastern and western parts of Bhutan.
