The Bhutanese Leading the way.
With Omicron detected in many countries, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is worried about the classes X and XII exams, scheduled to start from 14 February 2022. Another concern is to provide uninterrupted education to the students for the 2022 academic year.
The Education Minister Jai Bir Rai said thousands of students are scattered across the country, and except for Phaduna students in Punakha who were relocated from Phuentsholing, other students are on winter vacation.
MoE is also planning on ways to provide uninterrupted education. The Education Minister said they have learned from the past situation where everything was done in haste due to the sudden nationwide lockdown.
“We have to be careful, especially now, since the exams for class X and XII are coming. In case any lockdown happens, in any parts of the country, then we might have to bring in students in a containment mode, especially students in Gelephu, Samtse, Samdrup Jongkhar and Pasakha,” said Lyonpo Jai Bir Rai.
The exams will be done between February and March 2022, so hopefully, there will not be any issues with regard to examinations. As for the other students in the low-risk areas, the examinations will be conducted as usual, the minister added.
The Learning Management System (LMS) is to be fully implemented in the 2022 academic year. All schools are to be connected to high Internet speed by 31 December for the purpose of blended learning. Therefore, if there is a situation of a lockdown or any other issues, which would interrupt the education, then the students will always find it easier and more comfortable to learn and study online.
Lyonpo said the teachers and students were affected badly due to the pandemic, but they have been adapting to the situation for almost two years now. Therefore, teachers and students are much more comfortable in taking up online classes.
The ministry has always cautioned the schools in the border areas and provides options to the parents and students in Phuentsholing and other high-risk dzongkhags to continue their education in other low-risks dzongkhags. The ministry is facilitating any students who want to transfer to other schools.
