Editorial

A picture of two men carrying a barrel of fuel is side-splitting and altogether a scene of remote land, however, it is not a distant land. Sadly, this comedy is happening in Bhutan. The rise in fuel price will have a disastrous ripple-effect on the economy, and the ensuing condition will create a lasting void, and bridging these losses will …

In closing businesses, it is not a mere string of shops, it is the bread and butter of thousands of families and abruptly closing down a business that has been there for decades, the government must think of ways to benefit the people that have survived through the business so far. The idea is noble, or not, it is arguable …

In the effort to make our education system a holistic one, the government adopted a curriculum that aligned with a humanistic model, and together with it, new assessment criteria too. The new assessment criteria did not go well with many teachers, students and parents, many students will have to undergo the same class for another year but this does not …

The thromde elections are over and new thrompons and tshogpas elected in the three municipalities of Thimphu, Phuentsholing and Gelephu widely considered the commercial hubs of the country.Given the magnanimity of the role played by these new cohorts of urban planners and decision makers, it has become even more imperative that the best and the most deserving candidates are given …

Starting Monday, April 1, the ban on single use plastic carry bags, doma wrappers and ice cream pouches comes into effect, reinforcing a ban that was once tried two decades ago. There is a voluntary movement against the use of plastics in particular and waste in general.Every now and then we see people post pictures of collecting waste. Cleaning campaigns …

This week, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) honoured His Majesty The King with a Special Award of Recognition for His Majesty’s leadership in advancing human development and the wellbeing and happiness of the people of Bhutan. The UNDP had been one of the earliest development partners of Bhutan. They have seen Bhutan transform from an agrarian society to a …

The government’s decision to amend the Mines and Minerals Act of 1995 is a welcomed decision. The out-dated Act is shrouded in controversy. The decision is welcomed for so many reasons. From the deliberations in the Council, it can be derived that the old Act was benefiting only a handful of people, those in the mining sector. While the Constitution …

The projections of the National Statistical Bureau provide a lot of information, crucial for planning and setting our development agenda. As a small landlocked country, we have always thought that a small population will be easier to manage and feed. However, the findings of the report are disturbing. We had been experiencing steep decline in the fertility rate in the …

So the Class X cut off point will remain much to the disappointment of many students. This is the decision of the ongoing education conference where experts are discussing education issues. The government has pledged, to do away with the Class X cut off points to enable as many students to get to Class XI, when running for government. The …

What would come as good news for students, the government has decided to do away exams for primary schools. It will be done in phases and replaced by a formative assessment where students will be judged on modern assessment systems and not only exams. The decision has come after consultations with the Bhutan Council of School Examination and Assessment. How …