Measuring 15-year old’s Competency

                The assessment of the educational reforms by international standardized assessments has increasingly gained momentum in the process of education policymaking at both national and international levels. The indicators and data obtained particularly from such international benchmarking assessments are extensively used as policy guides while targeting any educational reforms. Due to such significance, just within the last two decades, several international surveys have been institutionalized in assessing the students’ knowledge and competency in various domains such as reading, mathematics and science.  

The abstract of our published manuscript

            The first of its kind established in 1995 and repeated every 4 years to test learners of 10-14 years was Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Five years later, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) was established to assess learners of 15 years in reading, mathematics and science. Established as a project of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the PISA test is administered repeatedly after every three years. The following year, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), which was also responsible for the establishment of the TIMSS, offered another international survey called the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). The PIRLS is repeated every 5 years and studies 10-year-old learners’ abilities in reading and literacy.

            Since its launch in 2000, the PISA in particular has witnessed a growing number of countries joining it after every assessment survey was conducted. This international survey which was initially envisaged as a means of providing data to base educational policy for the OECD countries later gathered more non-OECD countries. Today, it has reached globally to a greater extent and is not just limited to Europe. The rise in figures has augmented the pressure on OECD to cater to the needs of a larger and more diverse set of countries. In response to this challenge, the Programme for International Student Assessment for Development (PISA-D) was launched precisely for the middle and low-income countries to implement PISA framework-based assessment instruments which are designed in accordance with the PISA’s technical standards and usual practices.

            The gravity of importance played by such global benchmarking assessment has been taken so seriously by the Ministry of Education that Bhutan’s participation in PISA-D was endorsed during the 18^th National Education Conference held at Phuentsholing last winter in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Lynchoen Tshering Tobgay. Participating in the PISA-D, is expected to gather baseline data on 15-year-old Bhutanese students’ knowledge, skills and competencies in the three domains of reading, mathematics and science. In addition, the relevant stakeholders responsible for improving the national education standards will be drawn together to devise strategic plans for redefining the competency of our students to perform at an international parity. With these noble perspectives, the schools located across the kingdom that caters schooling to the grade nine students were mandated to institute the PISA-D club and conduct tests as a part of their instructional schedule.

                In Wangdue district, the PISA-D tests were a part of the school curricula, particularly for the four schools namely Bajothang Higher Secondary School, Gaselo Central School, Phobjikha Central School and Samtengang Central School (later Nobding Lower Secondary School joined). These schools were by default the participating schools as they accommodated the schooling of the 15-year-olds. This national programme mandated to be functioning smoothly in the schools often encountered some critical challenges such as inexperience of the teachers pertaining to the conduct of PISA-D tests, inaccessibility of the test materials and other relevant resources. Yet despite these resistive factors, the preparation for these international tests was executed in these four schools with the direction and status of its progress still unmeasured.

            As much as these tests were necessary, an evidence-based perspective to determine the progress of this national enterprise implemented within the district level was apparent and needful. In an attempt to analyze the preparatory progressions towards the PISA-D under Wangdue district, with the generous support from the Chief District Education Officer and my Principal, we have undertaken a preliminary PISA-D preparation survey. The manuscript later got published in the peer-reviewed journal of the Royal University of Bhutan, - Bhutan Journal of Research and Development. The publication has not only given me the insight to prepare for the greater test in 2021 (PISA), but it has also added another academic feather to my publication lists.

            Later that year, I was also privileged to be the first of the six Science Coders to evaluate the Science Literacy Domain of the PISA-D tests conducted in Bhutan. The results are expected to be out sometime by October this year.

Acknowledged as the Coder for Scientific Literacy Domain

“Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know” – Daniel Boorstin

Sexuality Education at Home

            2 years ago,  I conducted a study entitled, Adolescents' Perception of Parental Communication about Sexuality, which I presented during the National Seminar on Combating Sexual Violence for a Better Society at Samtse College of Education and later got published in the RABSEL - the CERD Educational Journal after a rigorous blind peer-review process. 

                The study was conducted to

i) Explore the adolescents’ perceptions of parental communication about sexuality;  

ii) Examine if the gender of the parents influenced the gender of adolescents in terms of having sexuality communication and

iii) Determine the main source of sexuality communication.

            The findings revealed that there was infrequent communication regarding sexuality between adolescents and parents. Interestingly, of the frequent sexual communication that transpired at home, it was the mothers who have done their roles as compared to the fathers. Likewise, sexuality communication was relatively higher in frequency between female adolescents and mothers. Both male and female adolescents perceived mothers as the main source of sexual communication.

            This study has a high bearing particularly in the context of today’s global awareness day of Menstrual Hygiene Day because the information on menstruation was one component incorporated under the construct of human growth and development in my study. 

"Breaking the silence" - Boys showing the support

            Unlike other societies, there is not much literature in Bhutan on considering menstruation as a social, cultural, or religious taboo. But in general, sexuality communication at home is seldom an affair due to its nature of being delicate and sensitive. While adolescence is the transition period of human life that is exposed to numerous life-changing or life-threatening situations, as parents, it is only apt that we provide them with the required support to make informed choices about their physiological and psychological health and well-being. 

Counselor Choki highlights the importance of good menstrual hygiene

            Literature has it that the onset of consistent sexuality education at home can drastically narrow the incidents of negative health consequences such as unhealthy relationships, unwanted pregnancies, illegitimate children and sexually transmitted diseases to name a few. It is high time to consider that the knowledge of sexuality is important not only for adults but is vital for adolescents as well. After all, when adolescents suffer, it is the nation’s asset that is often threatened.

            Thus, it is not only menstruation that requires awareness, the priority has to be in general to improve the knowledge of the sexual and reproductive health of young people. Parents must not shy away to initiate sexuality education at home. In the end, it is sexuality education that assists adolescents to channel their sexual instinct in the right direction, appreciating physical growth, accepting sexual facts and thus living a healthier and happier life.

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough” – Albert Einstein.

A Different Crowning Achievement

            Having attended one of the Friday Lecture Forums conducted in the Prajna auditorium of the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS) in Phuentsholing in 2016, I was always inspired to enrol in the programs that this institute offers to the Bhutanese citizens who have prospective of being nation’s future leaders. 

First day of the course

   

            Today, it has been exactly a month since I graduated from the RIGSS after the successful completion of the 6^th Young Professionals Leadership Program (YPLP) – a four-week leadership program designed for mid-career professionals across the spectrum of public, corporate, and private sectors. Even as a novice mid-level civil servant, having joined the bandwagon of numerous potential leaders after getting selected through a series of rigorous filtration processes, the triumph of completing this course was one of the most decorated crowning achievements of my life.

 

With Dr Singh, A Negotiation Expert

                

    YPLP is an avenue offered to young civil servants based on meritocracy and their potential to be prospective future leaders. Besides amassing the participants from various disciplines and dimensions of the nation’s working force, this program engages the participants to be conscious of the pertinent and relatable national issues and challenges faced by our country.  

                RIGSS, the premier institute which was envisioned by His Majesty the King is steered by a faculty that comprises the Kingdom’s eminent front-runners of various organizations who assume distinguished portfolios along with numerous leadership pundits from both regional and international circles. The flavour of their homegrown insights, the vastness of their visions, and the adhesiveness of their communication potency certainly made me drenched with a belief that the RIGSS was indeed the Indigenous Harvard of our Kingdom.  

With Dr Adrian Chain, a leadership Guru

                Of the 28 days, three weeks of the course are devoted to having intellectual osmosis and professional dialogues amongst the participants and the experts within the RIGSS classrooms and its campus popularly known as the Coronation Hostel. In the 4th week, it is an outdoor learning expedition and team-building camp. For the outdoor camp, we had terrific trekking in the illustrious Druk Path Trek (Video by my colleague Mr Nidup Gyeltshen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epu-ve5zV4g) along with two Singaporean trainers, one of whom was the first Singaporean to have conquered Mount Everest. The adventurous program spearheaded by them was so fleshy to clement us even in the snow-clothed mountains that suffered the frequent kiss of the icy alp gale.   

Building pyramid near Jimilangtsho

Trekking towards Druk Path Trek

                But of oodles of memories, the audience by His Majesty the King was certainly one thing that will remain cherished in the shrine of my mind. The gravity of the royal attention webbed with ultimate trust and confidence for the 30 young professionals to assist the Monarch in carrying our nation peacefully to the infinite times was another thing that would be unendurable to witness wither from the screen of our memory. With solemn faith, I prayed that may I be your dedicated, loyal and patriotic citizen till eternity.

His Majesty the King with YPLP-6 participants

            The significance of this program was further echoed when the Prime Minister of Bhutan gave us the audience in the Gyalyong Tshokhang. The lyrics of his expectations and the ingredients of the message embraced a Royal flavour and aroma of insights.

With the Prime Minister of Bhutan

            The closing ceremony was graced by His Excellency the then Chairperson of the National Council, Dasho Dr Sonam Kinga. on behalf of my friends, I took the opportunity to express our gratitude to the RIGSS within a time frame of 5 minutes.   

Receiving the Certificate of Completion from the then Chairperson, National Council

                In retrospect, I vividly remember that within the span of just about a month, I had the opportunity to learn about my country, appreciate its smallness and reaffirm my dedication. 

Delivering the closing speech on behalf of my friends

A certificate of completion

On meeting the requirements set by Dale Carnegie & Associates Inc.

            Below is the speech that I delivered on behalf of my friends during the closing ceremony: 

        Just as April 14^th is an accomplishment day for the Dutch scientist Christian Huygens to discover Titan, the largest moon in Saturn in 1655, or 

 

          Just as April 14^th is a wish-fulfilling day for India to have Ambedkar Jayanti, the first law minister and the father of the Indian constitution in 1891, or 

 

        Just as April 14^th is an unforgettable day for the British to remember the collision of the RMS Titanic with an iceberg during its maiden voyage in 1912; and 

 

         Just as April 14^th is an auspicious day for the Aries, the first astrological sign in the zodiac to be adorned with generosity, optimism, and a positive attitude, 

 

        So is it a day of accomplishments, wish-fulfilment, memorable, and promising for the cohort of the 6^th Young Professionals Leadership Program.  

 

        Honourable Thrizin, Chairman, Royal Civil Service Commission, CEO, DHI, other distinguished dignitaries, Director, the faculty of the RIGSS, ladies, and gentlemen.   

 

            On behalf of YPLP-6, may I take this privilege to share some of my reflections regarding the program. 

 

        As the world gradually turns to a graveyard of globalisation in its influence, digitalisation in its economic muscle, and compartmentalisation in its territory, the otherwise small and beautiful Bhutan, cannot afford to avoid this seismic wave of disturbance. Under such a systematically volatile world, popularly referred to as the VUCA system, the survival of our sovereignty is highly reliant on how we buffer and navigate the compass of this inevitable influence.  

 

        But, thanks to our visionary monarchs, under whose benevolent reigns have secured this landlocked Kingdom safely until this date. And today, the birth of this premier institute and a think-tank – the RIGSS, a brainchild of His Majesty’s farsightedness is yet another milestone that can contribute to consolidating the status of our sovereignty, by reinventing a strategic vision that is resilient, dynamic, and malleable. 

 

            On the flight of an insightful journey for almost a month along with the crews composed of the Kingdom’s prolific leadership frontrunners and managerial pundits from abroad, we successfully crossed the last terminal of YPLP with the luggage of profound wisdom. 

 

            Through this journey, we were able to telescope the overarching vision of our King and his leadership aspirations. We are now fully aware of the environmental health of our national security affected due to the tsunamic waves of geopolitics besides understanding the anatomy of our history and culture and physiology of our Foreign policies and Bhutanese economy. 

 

            So, RIGSS to us is indeed a synonym for a ‘Library of Wisdom’. And if there is any middle name for this institute, it will certainly be “The Gateway of Transformation”.  

 

            Today, as we graduate from this institute, we vow to remain as special RIGSS Alumni, and ambassadors of His Majesty’s hopes and aspirations and therefore be prepared to share the knowledge and national concerns in the place where we work and be an important arm of the institute’s advancement activities. 

 

        Thus, appreciating RIGSS as the powerhouse of generating prudent knowledge and transcendental wisdom, it is only apt that we offer a statue of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, as a token of our sincere appreciation. 

(Invite the Director of the RIGSS to kindly receive the momento from our two captains). 

 

            Like the double flaming sword of Jetsuen Jampelyang that annihilates ignorance, the fundamental cause of cyclic existence and suffering, may RIGSS live on to illuminate the hearts of many Bhutanese leaders in the days to come.  

        Last but not least, let me borrow the words of William Shakespeare from his play The Twelfth Night, I quote, “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, thanks, and ever thanks”. 

 

Kadrinchey!

 

What we need is not a Leader to lead the Masses – we need Leadership of the Self 

– His Majesty the King during the Royal Address to the University of Calcutta, 5^th October 2010