"A recent research with 200 collected samples from neighboring areas to identify causes as well as measures to prevent the school dropout situation was conducted by Mr. Thinley Rabgay from Laya Central School.
By Nima | Kuensel
The research, conducted by a teacher named Thinley Rabgay from Laya Central School, revealed that cultural norms surrounding Cordyceps collection and early marriage are the main causes leading students in Laya, Bhutan, to drop out of school prematurely. As a consequence, incomplete basic education continues to affect children in the highland community of Laya in Gasa, a remote region that is also known to visitors during a Bhutan trip for its distinct culture and landscape.
The research involved 200 collected samples from neighboring areas to identify both the causes of school dropout and possible preventive measures. Mr. Rabgay examined factors such as family responsibility, financial challenges, early marriage or pregnancy before marriage, family education background, teachers’ attitudes, teaching and learning methods, school atmosphere, school facilities, and school location.
According to the findings, a total of 30 students left school between 2015 and 2017. In 2018, Laya Central School recorded 11 fewer student enrollments compared to 2017, and three students dropped out during the mid-term break that year. As a result, the school currently has only 143 students.
What are the reasons for students to leave school prematurely
188, in total, involved participants in the research in which more than 53 percent of the respondents concurred that being the oldest child in the family is the reason for leaving school while roughly 28 said that they had to take care of their younger siblings. The researchers noticed that staying back home to help parents as the eldest child was considered a common norm in the community.
Among them, 8 percent agreed that the problems related to finance were a reason for dropping out of school in the number of students. Collecting cordyceps, however, is considered as their annual income since it gives both those dropping-out students and their parents at least Nu 100.000, have been the major reason for the fact that 80 percent of the total respondents concurred with this stuff.
The Laya, a community located 3.800m above sea level, thus the main income source of people here is mostly through collecting cordyceps, raising yaks up, providing porter services and starting-up business among others.
Also, the research indicated that other significant reasons leading students to leave school were the geographical location as well as the bad weather condition.
Marriage is the main reason for Laya girls to leave school
“Girls at the age of 15 tend to drop out of school to get married due to the practice of early marriage which is considered the community’s custom”, according to the research. The figures showed that out of the total 53 students dropping out of school, there were 34 married and two had divorced. “ At the age of 21, there were 11 students leaving school to get married as well as 16 ones aged between 21 and 30 years.”
Raising awareness of the importance of education
The phenomenon of leaving school in students is now alarming to the education sector and the school with the fact that the school dropout rate has increased annually. While 29 percent of respondents disagreed, more than 20 percent adamantly agreed with the fact that parents’ awareness had little influence on the importance of education.
The “Value of Education” was celebrated with the aim of talking to both students and their parents about the importance of education and making school more welcoming. With more than a day of walking from Laya, students will take part in Bjishong Central School after finishing class VIII from Laya Lower Secondary School. Constructing this April 2018, the Laya Lower Secondary School has become a central school.
