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The Education Minister Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa said that the final outcome of the Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School case will be determined by the relevant law enforcement and judicial authorities, clarifying that school disciplinary action and criminal proceedings follow separate processes.
The clarification comes after questions were raised over the ministry’s earlier update on the incident and subsequent reports regarding possible legal action.
Lyonpo said that when the ministry issued its previous statement, no criminal charges had been confirmed and the matter was being handled through the school’s disciplinary procedures and child protection mechanisms based on the information available at the time.
Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa said, “There is, therefore, no inconsistency between the ministry’s earlier statement and the subsequent reports. School disciplinary processes and criminal proceedings serve different purposes and operate independently.”
The Education Minister explained that while schools are responsible for addressing violations of school rules under the School Discipline Guidelines, investigations into possible offences fall under the mandate of the Royal Bhutan Police and other competent authorities.
“While schools are responsible for addressing breaches of school rules under the School Discipline Guidelines, the Royal Bhutan Police and other competent authorities are responsible for investigating whether any offences have been committed and determining the appropriate charges in accordance with the law,” Lyonpo said.
Furthermore, she said that the ministry would not comment further on matters currently before competent authorities but remains committed to supporting the students involved through coordination with the school, parents, and relevant agencies.
Meanwhile, Lyonpo said that the ministry is working on the Student Behaviour Policy 2026, which will strengthen measures to prevent bullying, promote positive student behaviour, and provide schools with clearer procedures for handling serious misconduct.
The policy is also expected to reinforce accountability among students and strengthen the ministry’s zero-tolerance approach towards bullying and violence in schools.
As part of the immediate support measures, the Education Minister said the students involved would be relocated to other schools.
“The students involved will be relocated to other schools for their well-being,” Lyonpo said, adding that the priority remains ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.
