January 13: The 11th annual education conference concluded yesterday. The week long conference with the theme “in pursuit of excellence in education” was attended by Dzongkhag Education Officers, Principals and Education officials.

The conference decided that the ban on corporal punishment should be fully enforced in all schools. The conference also decided that the impact study of teaching history in Dzongkha will be carried out by the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) within June this year.

The conference also resolved that a comprehensive policy on school safety and guidelines on promoting cultural education in schools should be developed and presented in the 12th annual education conference.

Coming to procurement of stationeries, sports items, library books and science equipments, the education sector decided that it will be decentralized in the Dzongkhag level from this year onwards.

The conference also endorsed that textbooks be made available in the market from this year.

The conference also resolved that Dzongkha be introduced as a stream in classes XI and XII.