Scholarship students will be sent only to third countries to ease rupee outflow

This year, the Scholarship and Student Support Division (SSSD) under Adult and Higher Education Department (AHED) with the Ministry of Education (MoE) has decided not to send any students funded by the government to study in India, in order to “ease the flow of rupee,” according to division officials.

Unlike in the past, no students will go to study in India under government funding. Instead, they will be sent to third countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, Malaysia and even to the United States of America (USA).

The chief with the SSSD, Babu Ram Sherpa said this system will be followed hereafter.

Out of the total of 117 students registered for studies in India, 102 are funded by the Government of India (GoI).

However, students funded by the GoI will continue their studies in India.

Apart from not sending the scholarship students to India, the Higher Education and Planning Division (HEPD) also under AHED is reviewing a few proposals of establishing private colleges in the country.

The review is being done to ensure that the colleges meet required standards.

An official from HEPD said coming up with more private colleges will retain more students in the country and help reduce the rupee outflow.

“It will also give better access to tertiary education and there will be less movement of our students to other countries,” she added.

Observers have noted that the National Pension and Provident Fund’s (NPPF) policy of providing  student loans and the very less intake of students in colleges within the country leads to more outflow of money.

Therefore people feel that more private colleges should come up.

Currently, 368 students sent through SSSD are studying in India, out of which 59 are funded by the government and the rest by GoI.

There are 15 students registered with SSSD who will be sent to India through RGoB funding this year to commemorate the royal wedding.

These students are registered under ‘Queen’s Endowment for Cultural Studies’, and will be learning Sanskrit, Fine Arts and Herbal Medicines.

The government spends approximately Nu 62,000 every year for each student to pay for their rent, books and monthly stipend excluding tuition fees that differ from one college to another.

According to Babu Ram Sherpa, students pursuing studies in the field of medicine, biological sciences and engineering were also sent to India.

Today there are about 3,100 members registered with the Bhutanese Students’ Association (BSA) who spend around Nu 0.1 mn each year on their studies.

A total of Nu 10,000 has to be paid per student registered with the BSA every year.

Jigme Namgyel, a Bhutanese student studying in university in Andhra Pradesh, feels that the rupee crunch is affecting students who spend lavishly.

“The withdrawal of money from Punjab National Bank (PNB) is restricted to Nu 10,000 per day,” he said.

However, most of them are not affected as they do not spend more than that amount within a period of time.

Kinley Gyeltshen, a trainee at the National Defence Academy (NDA), said that students funded by the government are unaffected.

In addition to that, the government contributes funds according to the activities they undertake in their colleges.

The only long-term solution to the problem seems to be coming up of more private colleges.

HEPD which facilitates and supports those who have proposed to come up with private colleges are encouraging people to do so.

According to the chief program officer for HEPD, the review of the proposals for private colleges will take some time before being finalized. The report on balance of payment and the rupee shortage says that there’s outflow of  Rs 1 bn due to private education. Hence, there is an urgent need for the MoE to facilitate the development of private tertiary colleges in Bhutan, states the report.

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32 comments

  1. Its nice to hear that our student will have great chance to get study in third country and i congratulate for it. But the reason given to ease the rupee crunch is unreasonable..Do our government then have enough DOLLARS? uofffff i feel govt is rather making a bullshit decisions on it..how can a hard currency can be spent? if they are in third country, they have to give $800 per month = to Nu 40000 as a stipen but in india Rs 4500 soo. so is there any logic for it????

    • USD800 per month??? Where???

      • Ramtoktok
        When our students are sent to study abroad like in third country, they are entitle to get USD 800 and in thiland 700.. i have no idea in USA but i m definite that it wil be 800

    • Looks like some of our people at higher level like in position of chief do not show their capability…..its  high time.. c’mon!……..  thats where we are creating an platform for people to raise their voice  against incentives for senior civil servants.   

      It was circulated that import of vehicle and foreign goods to be stopped to check from dollars outflow, now some one is talking about sending more dollars with one student.  ( I AM JUST CONFUSED)- whether the level of their communication is so high or my understanding of their language is too poor!

      ( My suggestion would be always to look at how we can earn IC, just not to stop,..  to stop the IC outflow  is non economical  and will not be a sustainable solution)

      I see that sending  students out of India to study could be  good suggestion, but as raised above, what is is your answer of meeting the expenses where it will be relatively higher.  

      Now please stop saying that it will be on cost sharing basis, which  could  sideline  poorer group of students from going for the studies, where it has been basically practiced without much notice of public.

      DPT…..government, please do something?.  We trust you and have strong faith in you. Don’t let people to get confused over and again!

  2. HAAHAHAHAHA…….WHAT A FOOLISHNESS? MYGOODNESS……….WHO IS COMING UP WITH SUCH SOLUTION TO CURB RS FLOW?

  3. some funny head is heading this ministry , before making such decesions they should weigh which way they can benifit.
    Education in India is cheaper you can sell dollars and send 10 students in india which will be sufficient for just 2 students in other countries and may be one 1 in US.
    Does sherpa knows how much is the cost of studies in US?

    Please study well before u make comments. Dollars are not cheaper than Rupee. You can sell convert dollars in Rupee.what is fun of sending student spending dollars, are they coming freely? or are u trying to send signal to India please sponser every one else we will not sent to your country?

  4. may be some big sorts buddys are selected by govt and wanted to sent US….

    • God save us !!! What sort of decision, this Government (Education Ministry)is taking. I think the Government will exhaust all the hard earned dollars within two years and the consequences of this decision will hit very hard on the middle and low income groups of citizen.
      Education is definitely cheaper in India comparing to other third countries where Education Ministry is planning to send. The cost per student will tremendously increase. Compare the cost on the followings: (a) tuition fees (b) stipend (c) travel cost (in India people have been travelling in train……..now what ????) (d) cost of books and stationeries.

      Further the assumption here seems that earning dollar is much easier than earning rupee. We have to understand that the sources of dollars earning is much limited and fewer than rupee. Therefore as suggested earlier, the Government could think of selling the dollars and fund the scholarships if absolutely required. This will be much cheaper than sending the students elsewhere in the third countries……..Government and in particular, Education Ministry may have to make very sound and well researched decision. Please understand that your blunder will have very far reaching negative implications on the common people of this country.

    • i think its true..if we fish out then sure to see the truth

  5. Hahahaha…hehehhehe.hohohoohoh…cannot imagine scuh idiots are there in Bhutanese civil service and they run the show.No wonder RCSC always makes headlines not for good but worst decisions

  6. When it comes to education and health, this is the worst thakur and zangley can think of? Give this bald people more geshe…

  7. Ha, haa…………….while its a boon to the students who do not have to go to India and struggle, certainly its a blessing in disguise for the students to study in the third country. But the issue is, do you all think this is a sound proposal to solve the problem. Of all the sound proposal from the education, this would be the most stupid way to slove the issue in discussion, in a way this would create more problem. I hope there is no vested interest attach to it. Any common man can sense that sending students to more expensive countries is not a solution to this INR crunch problem, in fact it will aggravate the problem further. Just wait and watch ……………..

  8. I would like to clarify a mistake in this report . the students registered with BSA receive nu. 1000 each per student per year …not nu.10000 as mentioned here.

  9. This policy gives a good scope for another Crunch…… The Dollar Crunch. GOD Save my country!! 

  10. I totally agree that it is really stupid decision.

    The only sensible and may be possible reasons is their thinking that the students may earn back some $$$ by doing part-time job in third country and bring it back to Bhutan!!!
    But I doubt whether the students can earn $$$ in all the third country???

  11. This is the most stupid idea i have ever heard . I hope the Education Ministry will seriously look into this particular issue with caution and sensibility. It sounds “penny wise pound foolish:

  12. Wow.
    what a dicission. I guess there are no conflict of interest in making such decission. I only wish such dicission were not taken to cater to their needs as it will make some of their sons, daughters niece etc to take the opportunity of such wise and self interest policy. Please safe our country and can we come on street to demonstrate of such selfish dicisiion. I am sure there will be no justification on this dicission.

  13. This is bullshit, like someone rightly said may be some bigshots kits and kins are selected under RGOB scholarship. If this is really done then the toppers should make noise as it is them who should get to study in third country as they have worked hard for that. This will be really unfair for them that they being topper get to study in india and those who did not work hard get to study in third country. Thakur should think by putting himself in the toppers shoes.
    And yes why not sell the USD and buy INR, this will be more than 50% cheaper to study in india. Our Govt is making all sorts of wrong decisions under this INR crisis. Please do some good study DPT

  14. This is really ridiculous proposal.I think some fishy game is going on in Education Ministry.

  15. The officials who have come up with this proposal need to be made redundant as it is clear that they don’t know what is really going on.

  16. this ministry is drunk
    He needs to wake up
    Just coz of this ministry
    The whole nation shouldnt get devoid of her privilege
    Wake up ya
    Did you really ponder over it
    Before taking such lousy decisions
    The whole nation will be shaken
    With such porous regulation
    Do something before its implemented
    So that the past relation ensues hereafter

  17. can’t the students in India be paid in dollars?

  18. Education is the one and most powerful weapon in the world for the transformation of individual and for the service of nation building.For this, why Govt. should so much concern saying Rupees and bla-bla- If some of yound sters can come with the PhD in Mathematics from Oxford, Cambridge and so forth it will be asset for the nation. It is shame for the nation Bhutan we do not have PhD in Mathematic till date. Our education Minister should think some one to send to Oxford and Cambridge for the diferent programmes instead of making educational noise

  19. Who can trust RCSC? Poll?? They themselves are confused. Last time i call to a number given at the bottom page of the scholarship announcement but a lady responded ” I don’t know”. Who should know la? 
    In last Trongsa penlop scholarship short list, mister Chechey was shortlisted as he is even  shortlisted in Nehru-Wangchu . The change was made later he was selected.Is it that they don’t know the rules??if they The govt. has to replace them.if not try to be man of the work.
    By the rule applied to us only after three years of service we can apply for scholarship but looking at selected candidates and shortlisted candidate we could see even pass outs of 2010 are listed and even selected. Though we are different but we cannot effort to have two rules. Or have rules changed but i didn’t hear?  Or is there defects with Dashos up there in the offices. 

    I think some one has to do something. please. We cannot have obsoletes in mechanized angd butting  world.

  20. I m totally confused on the Education Ministry’s decision. Don’t we have better people in the Division? What sort of decision is this? ……being far far away from home………i am fainting to hear such news!!!!!!!!!!!
    This decision will not solve the problem, rather it will further complicate. My concerns here are as follows;
    1. as some one mentioned, we can sell the $$$$$$$$ and met the educational expenses IN INDIA
    2. education in India is far more cheaper than in third countries. one students air fair to US can almost meet 2 students stiphen in India……….and bla…..bal…. many are there to compare
    3. if this is the new policy- all toppers will choose to go to third countries and remaining selected students will not qualify for GOI scholarship which meanse bhutan will be loosing some of scholarship slots offered by GOI.
    WHAT HELL ON EARTH IS THIS DECISION……….MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!
    DPT IS DICTATING THE CITIZENS OF BHUTAN – THIS IS AGAINST THE HUMANITARIAN RIGHTS – INCREASE TAXES – NO INCOME REVISION – STOP CHEAP IMPORTS – PROMOTE EXPENSIVE VEGETABLE IN COUNTRY – CUT MANDATORY SUPPLIES (OFFICE STATIONARY, FURNITURE ETC.)  – INCREASE FOREIGN TRIPS TO GNHC OFFICER WHO ARE IN SEARCH OF HAPPINESS IN FOREIGN LAND AND THEY BRING FOREIGN FLOWERS IN THE WHICH CREATES CRISES IN THE NATION…………

    IT IS PITY TO SEE THAT MOF HAS BECOME CHIEF POSTMASTER NOW EVER SICNE GNHC HAS BEEN CREATED.

    THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN AID AND DEBT MANAGEMENT WAS UNDER MOF

    BUT EVER SINCE, GNHC WAS BORNE – LAVISH GOVERNMENT SPENDING TOOK PLACE

    THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THE CONCEPT OF VALUE FOR MONEY

    HAND OVER THE AID AND DEBT MANAGEMENT (INCLUDING RESOURCE MOBILIZATION) BACK TO MOF AND GNHC LET CONCENTRATE ON PLANNING. PLANNING AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION TOGETHER IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THIS IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF RUPEE CRISES.

    THE CURRENT STATUS OF GNHC OFFICERS ARE MORE POWERFUL THEN FINANCE SECRETARY BECAUSE THEY CAN PLAN AND MOBILIZE RESOURCES ALTOGETHER. MOF HAS NO SAY ON THIS………WHEN THERE IS FINANCIAL CRISES…MOF HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR BAD POLICIES……..M REALLY FAINTING HERE………..CANT WRITE MORE  ALTHOUGH I HAVE MANY THINGS TO SHARE BUT MY HEART ACHE HERE. 

    GOOD BYE DPT………FOR EVER ……..AND EVER………..

     

  21. Then how come student studying in sri lanka entitled to USD 375 per month which is not even half the amount you mentioned. Anyway the decision goverment is taking is really foolish, if government have this much amount of dollars, sell those dollars to India, the expenditure on one student to third country can be used for atleast two student in india….

    • It is just impossible to believe that none of the people at the ministry even thought about this idea of selling dollars for rupees, because it is crystal clear that colleges in India are cheaper than in other third countries.

  22. thats exactly the mad retarded bureaucrats of our govt at work.am ashamed of the kind of people ruling beautiful bhutan.similar severely stupidity decisions like plans to ban import of vegetables overnight as if the idiots can command the nature to produce enough vegetbles for the nation.atleast this the leader seems not have said the solution is GNH.

  23. I have seen our future and it is being made of glass. Bhutan has space and natural rsourses are plenty but we dont have brains, we have brains that function half and those functioning wholly are almost against our society, they are being driven by a mad ideas. We have education city comming, why are we oxfordizing wholeness when we know world is seeking new ways of education?
    All Bhutanese youngsters will enjoy five star facility and study doctorates within our teritory soon and that isn’t a wishful dream of the same if we make a better thought of our Nation.
    We have miracles, when there are miracles isn’t it possible to have an alternative?
    Someone back in ninetees said education will be the greatest factor in international economy, we have just known it now, still there are people who want to teach how to wear gho in colleges when someone at the age of six has listed himself as worlds youngest computer programmer.
    Should Bhutan earn through education we need to have brand new teaching methodology.
    I will make a free contribution if someone in the GNH society making something realistic. The Naropa university driven project called GNH pedogogy is an insane way of wasting the funders’ wit and workers’ wisdom. Lets start someday convert glass into iron, so that Bhutanese Knowledge will be a ‘Intangible golden platinum of 21st century’.
    If u think you will be useful in my journey: mail me suberi6@gmail.com

  24. Respected decession makers, i honestly respect your decessions…coz m sure u all have given hundreds thoughts before. So i fear that if scholrship is with cost sharing than i can’t afford atall as m from poor family background.
    If its wih cost sharing than better i want to join CST n graduate peacefully rather to take the course in worry.
    Its my sinsere request to the concern authority to look unto the matter please…
    Hoping for supporters please.

  25. What a stupid idea and I don’t who is putting up this proposal. Please do proper research prior to putting up such stupid, brainless and dumb proposal. Don’t we have some better proposal than this to curb rupee crunch? No wonder why our government is depending on McKinsey Consultancy firm….

  26. It did not make a slightest of sense in my head. So ADHE is looking to spend dollars, didn’t know Bhutan have more dollar reserve than the rupees. 

    It is really pity, we do have people with such ideas who all this time have been just minting from the public coffers. Would it not be better if we just sold dollars and buy rupees which can buffer the crunch during slow change and process of economic self sustenance? 

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