My Feedback on New School Disciplinary Policy as Informed to Education Monitoring Officer (EMO), Paro

I consider 16^th April 2012 as one important day in the history of Baylling HSS. It was on that day I got an opportunity to meet our Hon’ble Secretary at Trashigang and hear from her in person the reasons that compelled Ministry to come up with new package of uniform discipline guidelines for schools across the kingdom. The reasons were lucid. The process to implement discipline procedures became even clearer.

I did not have slight problem in working out to bring new discipline framework for our school. I made it and presented it to our staff for suggestions, feedbacks and endorsement. With little suggestion for incorporation, based on our situation, the final discipline policy was unanimously endorsed. It has now become a much coveted documents.

Within next few days, on 30^th April 2012, special morning assembly was conducted in our MPH. We sacrificed singing our normal prayer for Goddess Jampelyang by making silent prayer at heart to Her to permit us to discuss our discipline policy with students. We have especially chosen morning assembly time because we thought that students are highly alert and active in the morning hours and that they would be able to understand more and make knee-deep participation. As expected there was very high participation. Students took part in expressing their appreciation. One girl student even said that ‘because of a few friends, our school was not spared from blames in the past. Now, with the introduction of new discipline policy, everybody is chained to good work. I feel fortunate, such change is happening during our time.’ There wasn’t any student who said no to the new discipline policy. Thus, the new guidelines from Ministry, with few additional points of our own based on our situation, was adopted as School Disciplinary Policy.

Since that day, whenever necessary, we keep reminding in the mass about what had been discussed and decided. Maybe because of the adoption, or maybe because of firm and consistent implementation, or may be because of constant reminder, we have seen a drastic improvement in our students’ behavior. In the past, we had students who were into drugs, petty theft, alcoholism and high cases of absenteeism. Now, it is not to say we do not have it, but drastically reduced and dying out. It will not take long to see that all youths become productive and serving our nation in the true spirit of his or her mind and fulfilling His Majesty’s wish of seeing potential leaders in the present youths.

Students know that if they are expelled from one school they will not get admission in any school within Bhutan. No matter whether we expel them or not, but this clause itself puts constant fear and reminds students to refrain from indulging in any activity that would compel school to expel them. Thus, they behave well, remain attentive in classes, keep away from evils, and present in all school activities.

Teachers have regained their old lost respect now. They feel much respected and comfortable. Some of our teachers have said:

1. Good step taken by MoE for betterment of students’ learning and to discourage the inward inert criminal nature to crop out. But all individual school needs to implement constantly.
2. The Policy is fair and based on the responsibility an individual must play in the democratic society.
3. I see it to be better than the previous one. Students are improving. Things are moving forward as expected.

I too feel that our ministry has made an intervention at the right time. This will restore many good values and bring many happy returns. Kudos to our Secretary and a team who envisioned and initiated this noble venture!   

Yonten Jamtsho

    Principal       

2^nd August 2012