The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The government is working very hard to look for possibilities in creating other job opportunities for B.Ed graduates, within Bhutan and outside country, said Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay during the 15th Meet-the-Press session held yesterday in Thimphu
Lyonchhen said the government respects the Royal Civil Service Commission’s (RCSC) decision to take a limited number of B.Ed graduates. He said the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) together with RCSC are looking into how to employ the unemployed B.Ed graduates.
PM said, “We don’t want many teachers as contract teacher possibly. We had a close consultation with RCSC, even the RCSC approach is required to recruit the B.Ed graduates as contract teacher. When we recruit them as contract teachers, obviously there has to be opening for teachers.”
Lyonchhen said the government is thinking of how best to look for jobs and have them employed within and outside Bhutan. Also, the contract teachers, mostly class 12 graduates, are employed for a 2-year term and could easily be replaced by more qualified teachers. PM said the concern is if they can continue to function as teachers with the required skills.
“We have seriously considered replacing them with new contract teachers. This is difficult, but it has to be done for the future of our children, to ensure that our children get good education,” Lyonchhen added.
He said that for those who cannot continue with the contract, MoLHR will have to work together with them collectively, but also individually, on what can be done or what type of new jobs they can do.
MoLHR Minister Ngeema Sangay Tshempo said that the ministry is working with external agencies in India and Thailand to expand the employment scope of the B.Ed graduates who are unemployed.
He said that the ministry has talked with Indian institutions and schools. “We are trying to send them to India, but not in a big number.” He said that the ministry is also working with two recruitment agencies in Thailand, with possible outcome in the middle of this month, as the agencies are scheduled to interview the B.Ed graduates for employment purpose. “We are hopeful that they will take a good number of B.Ed graduates,” said Lyonpo Ngeema Sangay Tshempo, adding that the ministry is also trying to look for other job avenues within the country besides the teaching job.
