Every child must go to school, PM stressed

Pemagatshel: Any Bhutanese who is on a temporary residence for more than six months in a place must have their children of school-going age admitted to the nearest school. It is the gup’s responsibility to ensure that every child in his or her gewog goes to school. This was what Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley emphatically told the gups during the 10th plan mid-term review in Pemagatshel Dzongkhag on February 28.

Lyonchhen took a particular notice of the primary enrolment of children in schools in the gewogs and sought reasons why some children do not attend schools. He was impressed by detailed information on children who do not go to school, including the names of the parents and the reasons for not attending schools, provided by the gups.

He urged all the gups to ensure that these children go to school. “It will be a failure on your part if you do not send every child of school-going age to schools,” Lyonchhen stressed.

The net primary enrolment in Pemagatshel Dzongkhag is 98 percent for the mid-term review period. However, with the onset of the new academic session, the figure is close to 100 percent. This was evident from the reports submitted by the gewogs.

Net primary enrolment in the three gewogs of Nganglam Dungkhag, Khar, Yurung and Zobel gewogs all attained 100 percent primary enrolment.

Net primary enrolment in Dungmin Gewog is 96 percent with only four children having missed school last year. “Of the four children, one is in Thimphu while another is suffering from mental retardation. The other two will be admitted this year. I am going to ensure that this is done,” said Gup Tashi Phuntsho.

Chimung Gewog has one child not admitted to school. The gup said that the boy was adamant about not going to school. In addition, the parents are

also a little reluctant to send the child to school against his wish.

“I think poverty could be the reason but I am going to persuade the parents by providing school

uniforms and other necessities,” said Chimung Gup Phobzang.

The primary enrolment in Nanong Gewog is 98 percent for the period up to mid-term review. “All the six children, who missed school last year, are supposed to have been admitted to school during this academic year. I will have to ensure that they are in school this year,” said Gup Putur, who is on his way back to his gewog after the mid-term review meeting.

According to Chongshing gup, primary enrolment in his gewog is 99.10 percent with just one child not in school last year.

“Shumar Gewog has two children who missed school last year. This year, a girl, who missed school, has been admitted to school.

I have been pursuing the father of another boy to get his son admitted to school. The boy could not attend his school because his father remained away most of the time working as a labourer,” said Shumar Gup Lepo.

By Gyembo Namgyal