Shortening the long trek to school

It's seven in the morning. Nine-year old Yeshey Wangmo finishes her breakfast of rice and ezay (chillis) and helps clear the dishes. Her mother packs her bangchu, a round basket container, with some rice and curry for her school lunch. Fifteen minutes later, Yeshey joins a group of children to walk to school, 45 minutes away.

Yeshey and her friends started schooling six months ago when the Chamgang Community School opened. It was an exciting occasion for the village as the monks chanted prayers and an education official came from the capital to explain the benefits of education. With the nearest primary school more than three hours walk away, enrolment in Chamgang quickly reached 105 students, aged between six and 18. As in other community schools experiencing a staff shortage, the three teachers in Chamgang teach several grades simultaneously. These teachers were trained in multigrade teaching methods as part of a UNICEF-AusAID grant.

In mountainous Bhutan, community schools are established in places with larger communities where primary schools are located too far for children to reach each day. The schools were initially housed in a variety of places, from temporary sheds to local monasteries. Proper school buildings were then built in the next phase.

Communities have built more than 150 community schools, with the government providing building materials. These schools have enrolled more than 12,600 students in classes ranging from pre-primary to Class Six. More than 30 community schools have since been upgraded into primary schools.

Community schools play a key role in helping Bhutan achieve the goal of Education for All. With other donors supporting primary and junior high schools, UNICEF is the main donor assisting community schools.