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Reforms before GNH, say students

11 December 2009

National and international participants at the six-day Educating for GNH workshop underwayThe idea of infusing Gross National Happiness in the school curriculum is good but special thoughts have to be given before actually going about it, say student participants at the GNH workshop in Thimphu.

Most of them said that, instead of trying to rewrite GNH-oriented texts, there is an urgent need for a sensible reform in the education system. “Teaching GNH through mathematics is quizzical. What GNH values can possibly be imparted through numbers?” asks a student participant. “Rather than values education classes, where no one knows what to do, values like compassion, emotion taming and watchfulness could be taught through mindfulness practice. That to me sounds feasible and urgent,” he says.

Students pointed out some major flaws that needed immediate fixing. They said classrooms are overcrowded, and that it needs to be eased out for effective learning.

Another problem recognized by both students and teachers is the examination-oriented education system. “This has to be done away with because it is not an appropriate gauge to measure students’ progress or intelligence, and that it only adds stress and burden,” said a student participant. What could be incorporated instead, he said, was promote students depending on their classroom participation, assignments and individual projects.

Looming large over all the flaws in the Bhutanese education system, observers and participants pointed out, was self-esteem of the teachers that must be given a boost. It was recommended that the Education Ministry and the government make teaching a respectable and highly regarded profession in order to attract intelligent and committed teachers.

“Because teachers are the real role players in shaping the young minds, their profession must be made attractive by incentivizing them with certain gains and place in the society,” said Rohit Adikari, a student observer from Yangchenphu Higher Secondary School, Thimphu. “This will also greatly ease the problem of shortage of teachers in the country,” he added.

Most participants believed that GNH does not need teaching in the classroom. What is required is a bit of polishing and mending where things have fallen out. If fixing is done at the earliest, most of the problems could be resolved, and that inclusion of mindfulness practice, eco-literacy, and indigenous studies could make things better, said participants.

School principals and representatives of the two teacher training colleges will meet from January 20-27 for facilitator training to prepare them for the transition. The Ministry of Education has estimated a budget of Nu. 5.2 million for the training.

By Jigme Wangchuk

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Comments

One Response to “Reforms before GNH, say students”

  1. Milan Chhetri on December 12th, 2009 10:21 pm

    GNH is not a subject to be taught in schools, actually its a task that is to be implemented……. Everybody talks about GNH but how far its working out….. talking and learning about GNH will not really work out to bring happiness in Bhutan instead it should be practiced in practical…. Do research and find out, the person who has intense knowledge about GNH would have not put a single effort to bring happiness to BHUTAN…?

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