The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Education Minister, Yeezang De Thapa, shared that the ministry’s recent Teacher Requirement Exercise has revealed an uneven distribution of teachers across the country.
While some Dzongkhags and Thromdes now have more teachers than needed in core subjects, shortages continue in specialised fields like SEN, IT, and History.
Explaining the causes behind this imbalance, Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa, said, “These surpluses have emerged due to a combination of factors such as the high attrition rates from 2021 to 2023, which required scaling up recruitment with the attrition now stabilising, the transition to the 2020 curriculum, which reduced teaching periods, and school mergers in some dzongkhags.”
The assessment also pointed to inconsistencies in the data submitted from the field. The ministry is currently working with dzongkhags to improve data validation and strengthen projections for future planning.
To address the immediate gaps, local administrations have now been given more flexibility to redeploy teachers within their own jurisdictions based on the real needs of individual schools.
Lyonpo said, “New B. Ed and PGDE graduates entering the system in 2026 will be placed in areas with persistent shortages, particularly in remote schools.” “Recruitment and transfers into urban areas with identified surpluses will remain limited for the time being,” Lyonpo added.
The ongoing curriculum alignment is also expected to shift teacher requirements, especially in primary Science and Technology, and in secondary-level Health and Physical Education, Digital Technology, and Innovation. Excess teachers will be reskilled and placed in these areas.
According to the Education Minister, work is underway to finalise updated placement and transfer guidelines with dzongkhags.
Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa said the changes will create a transparent, needs-based deployment system to ensure every child receives the support they need, wherever they attend school.
