Building a GNH-based education system

National research to identify fundamental elements of a GNH-based education system

Eighty-five lecturers from the colleges of Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) are attending a 10-day workshop on a GNH-based Bhutanese education system at Paro College of Education (PCE).

The workshop, which is discussing the scope, scale, and implications of GNH-based school classroom practices, pedagogy, and curriculum in Bhutan, is in preparation for a research project that will attempt to define the foundational elements of an education system based on the values of gross national happiness (GNH).

PCE’s officiating dean of academic affairs and the focal person of the workshop, Som Gurung, said the workshop on GNH consistent classroom pedagogy aims to enhance the capacity of faculty members of RUB and representatives of the Office of Vice Chancellor on holistic education practices.

RUB has invited Professor Deborah Young (PhD) of Naropa University in the US to lead the research. She said the outcome of the research project will inform the transformation of many colleges of RUB, and will profoundly impact the entire Bhutanese public school system.

“This research seeks to identify the most deeply rooted values among the people of Bhutan, and to identify the gaps between those values and current educational practice,” said Professor Deborah Young, the resource person at the workshop.

The idea of the research project was born after His Majesty the King in 2009 asked the government and the people to take on the issue of reforming the education system. His Majesty’s command was to transform the current British-based school system to a more holistic system in line with the principles of GNH.

Chief among His Majesty’s concerns was the development of a school system that would preserve and perpetuate valued aspects of Bhutan’s Buddhist-based culture, while balancing that with appropriate exposure to the modern industrial world.

Subsequently, the project was conceived in response to consultancy in the spring of 2011 on critical pedagogy and contemplative education at RUB.

The research project is expected to inform the development of the first national-scale school system based on holistic education principles which are in line with the principles of GNH.

The research will take off from spring this year. Som Gurung said participatory action research on GNH in school classroom practices, pedagogy and curriculum, which begins in spring, will be completed by spring 2014.

He said the action research by RUB faculty members led by the consultant will lead to the development of modules on contemplative practices and creative pedagogy.

Professor Deborah Young said that, although there are individual schools that take a holistic approach to education, Bhutan is the first country in the world to attempt to use holistic education as the underlying paradigm for the nation’s entire education system.

PCE plans to develop and offer MA and PhD courses in philosophical foundations of a GNH classroom from 2014 academic session.

Organised by RUB, the workshop is funded by United Nations Population Fund.

By Pema Tenzin

One Response to “Building a GNH-based education system”

1. drukpa says:

   February 25, 2012 at 8:53 am

   why gnh-based? why not start first with basic ‘quality-based’ education? we have not achieved that milestone yet.

   Reply