The Bhutanese Leading the way.
In response to pressing challenges in Bhutan’s education system, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) has outlined concrete steps to ensure the successful endorsement and implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2024.
The policy, which has been submitted for Cabinet approval, represents a significant leap in addressing the evolving needs of the education system.
NEP 2024 aligns closely with His Majesty The King’s Royal Kasho on Education Reform (2020) and Bhutan’s long-term aspirations for a more inclusive and equitable educational framework.
It covers all levels of education, from Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) to lifelong learning, and aims to strengthen key areas, including school education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and higher education.
“The NEP 2024 provides a comprehensive framework for transforming Bhutan’s education system, addressing critical challenges, and ensuring that education remains relevant to the needs of the country,” said MoESD Minister Yeezang De Thapa.
To ensure the successful execution of NEP, the National Education Council (NEC), chaired by the Prime Minister, will oversee the policy’s rollout. NEC will provide strategic guidance, monitor reforms, and coordinate efforts across all levels of education.
MoESD is also working closely with the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) to formalize the NEC under the Civil Service Reform Act 2022, with its establishment expected soon.
“The NEC will play a pivotal role in guiding and overseeing the implementation of the NEP 2024, ensuring that reforms are coordinated and aligned with national goals,” the Minister explained.
One of the most pressing concerns NEP 2024 seeks to address is the persistent rural-urban disparity in education access.
To tackle this, the policy introduces school consolidation into central clusters, offering integrated services that cover all educational levels, from ECCD to Grade XII. This initiative aims to ensure equitable access to education for students in remote areas.
In addition to consolidation, the policy focuses on expanding infrastructure in underserved regions, strategically locating schools, and increasing the number of ECCD centers to ensure that early education reaches rural communities.
“We are committed to bridging the gap between rural and urban education, ensuring that children from all corners of Bhutan have access to high-quality learning opportunities,” Lyonpo Yeezang emphasized.
A key component of the NEP is the empowerment of schools through teacher resource autonomy. The policy envisions granting larger schools greater flexibility in areas such as staffing, budgeting, and curriculum priorities. This is designed to promote more localised decision-making, and improve the responsiveness of the education system to the needs of individual schools and communities.
The National Teaching Service (NTS) framework, part of the broader policy reform, is central to enhancing teacher autonomy. It focuses on improving professional development, updating workload guidelines, and promoting teacher well-being initiatives to create a motivated and empowered teaching workforce.
“Through NTS, we aim to provide schools with the autonomy they need to make decisions that reflect their unique needs while also offering teachers the support and resources required for their professional growth,” the Minister stated.
Through the NEP 2024, Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa aims to create an equitable, high-quality, and future-ready education system for all Bhutanese students.
“The NEP 2024 is a bold step towards creating an education system that not only meets the needs of today but prepares our students for the challenges and opportunities of the future,” she added.
