In closing businesses, it is not a mere string of shops, it is the bread and butter of thousands of families and abruptly closing down a business that has been there for decades, the government must think of ways to benefit the people that have survived through the business so far. The idea is noble, or not, it is arguable …
Read More »Editorial
Setting new heights for education
In the effort to make our education system a holistic one, the government adopted a curriculum that aligned with a humanistic model, and together with it, new assessment criteria too. The new assessment criteria did not go well with many teachers, students and parents, many students will have to undergo the same class for another year but this does not …
Read More »Thromde elections and the neglected majority
The thromde elections are over and new thrompons and tshogpas elected in the three municipalities of Thimphu, Phuentsholing and Gelephu widely considered the commercial hubs of the country.Given the magnanimity of the role played by these new cohorts of urban planners and decision makers, it has become even more imperative that the best and the most deserving candidates are given …
Read More »Will the ban work this time?
Starting Monday, April 1, the ban on single use plastic carry bags, doma wrappers and ice cream pouches comes into effect, reinforcing a ban that was once tried two decades ago. There is a voluntary movement against the use of plastics in particular and waste in general.Every now and then we see people post pictures of collecting waste. Cleaning campaigns …
Read More »A Special Award
This week, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) honoured His Majesty The King with a Special Award of Recognition for His Majestyโs leadership in advancing human development and the wellbeing and happiness of the people of Bhutan. The UNDP had been one of the earliest development partners of Bhutan. They have seen Bhutan transform from an agrarian society to a …
Read More »Making the right decision
The governmentโs decision to amend the Mines and Minerals Act of 1995 is a welcomed decision. The out-dated Act is shrouded in controversy. The decision is welcomed for so many reasons. From the deliberations in the Council, it can be derived that the old Act was benefiting only a handful of people, those in the mining sector. While the Constitution …
Read More »The concerns of dropping birth rates
The projections of the National Statistical Bureau provide a lot of information, crucial for planning and setting our development agenda. As a small landlocked country, we have always thought that a small population will be easier to manage and feed. However, the findings of the report are disturbing. We had been experiencing steep decline in the fertility rate in the …
Read More »One more shot at improving TVETs
So the Class X cut off point will remain much to the disappointment of many students. This is the decision of the ongoing education conference where experts are discussing education issues. The government has pledged, to do away with the Class X cut off points to enable as many students to get to Class XI, when running for government. The …
Read More »Doing away with exams
What would come as good news for students, the government has decided to do away exams for primary schools. It will be done in phases and replaced by a formative assessment where students will be judged on modern assessment systems and not only exams. The decision has come after consultations with the Bhutan Council of School Examination and Assessment. How …
Read More »A lucky Dzongkhag
Samtse is all set to host the 111th National Day. The otherwise quite dzongkhag has suddenly come to life for the past few days with people from across the country heading down to the dzongkhag to witness the historic National Day celebrations. His Majesty The King, His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyaplo, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, His Royal Highness The …
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