Bhutan in STEM Teacher Crisis: 100 Indian Teachers to the Rescue! (But Will it Work?)
Bhutan faces a shortage of STEM teachers, particularly in math, ICT, physics and chemistry. To address this, the government will recruit 100 teachers from India. This is expected to reduce the immediate shortage of 135 STEM teachers to 456. However, there are concerns about the timing of professional development programs for existing teachers.
Bhutan in STEM Teacher Crisis
The Bhutanese government plans to recruit 100 teachers from India starting in July to address a shortage of STEM educators, as reported by local media.
Yeezang De Thapa, Minister of Education and Skill Development, outlined the strategy in response to the deficit in teachers for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, according to Kuensel newspaper.
The hiring will include 35 Mathematics teachers, 18 Physics teachers, 19 Chemistry teachers, and 28 ICT teachers, the report noted.
As of June, there is an immediate need for 135 STEM teachers in Bhutan, with shortages specifically in Mathematics (46 teachers), ICT (38 teachers), Physics (22 teachers), and Chemistry (29 teachers).
Minister Thapa highlighted that in 2023, there was a deficit of 1,263 teachers, which was reduced to 1,076 after recruiting 187 B.Ed teachers in January. Despite hiring 646 contract teachers from March to June, resignations have increased the shortage to 677 teachers.
The Minister projected that by July, with the addition of 121 new PGDE teachers and 100 expatriate teachers, the shortfall will decrease to 456.
Criticism has been directed towards the timing of professional development programs, which reportedly disrupt teaching sessions.
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