𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢’𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

…𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒙 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔

By Lhendup Wangmo

Over 50 children in Denchi town, under Pemagatshel, are forced to walk nearly five kilometers every day to attend classes at Khar Middle Secondary School and Yalang Primary School. The journey is not only long but dangerous, particularly during the summer months when the unpaved paths become muddy, slippery, and prone to landslides.

The route to school is fraught with challenges, winding through steep slopes, narrow trails, and areas along riverbanks and dense vegetation. In some sections, the path becomes nearly impassable after heavy rainfall. Children, some as young as six, navigate these hazardous conditions daily, often alone or in small groups, prompting serious concerns among parents about their safety and well-being.

During the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu, Shumar Gup Sonam Dendup emphasized the impact of the poor road infrastructure, not only on children’s education but on the overall growth of Denchi town. “One of the major challenges is the lack of a proper road. Children have to walk through rough, uneven paths to reach school, and during the summer, these routes become slippery and dangerous,” he said. “It’s especially hard for younger students, and it raises serious safety concerns for parents.”

Dendup explained that the absence of reliable infrastructure is discouraging families from settling in Denchi, which hampers both education access and the town’s development. “Without a good road and a nearby school, civil servants and other families are hesitant to move here. If we want Denchi to grow, we need to make it livable. A proper road would make travel safer, and once we have that and a school in place, more people would be willing to stay. That’s when real development will start,” he added.

For parents, the risks and financial burdens are significant. Sonam Chojay, a 46-year-old father of two school-going children, described the difficulties faced by the community. “We are really facing a problem because there’s no school nearby. The students have to walk about five kilometers, and for small children, that’s quite long,” he said. “The path they use is risky- there are cliffs along the way. During summer, the road becomes slippery. If a child slips, it could lead directly to the riverbank below.”

Chojay also highlighted the financial strain on families. “Not every parent can afford transportation. We have to pay Nu. 1,800 every month if we arrange for vehicles. Those who can’t afford that have no choice but to let their children walk, and that is very worrying.” For working parents, the situation is even more challenging, especially for mothers with younger children. “Some mothers have to walk with their children partway every day. It’s difficult, especially for those who also have to manage work or younger children at home. It affects everyone,” he said.

For many parents, especially working mothers, the lack of a nearby school is a constant source of stress. Dema Lham, a mother of three, shared how this issue affects her daily life. “My youngest is in Class Two, and she’s too small to walk alone,” she said. “Every day, I walk with her halfway to school, making sure she crosses the most dangerous part of the path. After that, I rush back home, finish my chores, and then prepare for work. Some days, I am late. Other days, I miss work entirely.”

She explained that the lack of a nearby school means getting up early each day and worrying about her child’s safety. “We get up very early, even before the sun rises, just to keep up with everything,” Dema said. “And it’s not just the walk- it’s the constant worry. The whole time I am at work, I am thinking about whether my daughter made it safely, whether the road was slippery, or if she remembered her umbrella.”

The situation is even more challenging for mothers with infants or toddlers at home. Some are forced to carry their younger children while accompanying their older ones to school, while others rely on neighbors or older family members to care for their babies. “It’s harder for mothers who have babies at home,” Dema added. “Sometimes we have to carry our toddlers while walking with the older one to school. Other times, we leave them with neighbors or relatives, and even that isn’t always possible. It’s mentally and physically draining.”

Dema believes that a school in Denchi would significantly ease the burden on working families. “If there was a school in Denchi, we wouldn’t have to go through this every day,” she said. “Our children would be safer, and we could manage our homes and jobs better. We don’t want much- just a simple school where our children can learn without risking their lives.”

Twelve-year-old Ugyen Lhamo, a Class Six student, echoed the concerns of her peers. “I get very tired walking every day,” she said. “When it rains, the road gets muddy and slippery. My shoes get soaked, and it’s scary walking near the cliff.” Chencho Dema, a 10-year-old Class Four student, added, “It gets scarier when we walk alone or when we get left behind by the others. During summer, the road becomes slippery. Once I fell and bruised my arm. My parents get very worried, but we don’t have a choice. We have to walk, even if we are sick or it’s raining.”

The situation in Denchi highlights the urgent need for improved infrastructure and a nearby school to support the community’s growth and ensure the safety and well-being of its children. Parents and community leaders continue to call for immediate action to address these challenges.