Most employees want the same things: a fair and competitive salary, hikes and promotions, and normal TA/DA, to foster greater employee engagement and a sense of satisfaction in jobs.
Monetary benefits consistently top the
list of what employees would give them greater gratification. Provide these
benefits, and one could see a more positive culture, more engaged employees,
and a more loyal and productive workforce.
The education ministry has been
working on developing the skills of teachers and increasing their happiness.
“A teacher is the heart of school and education,” education minister Norbu
Wangchuk said. With his vision and a good plan, teachers in Bhutan got to attain
the training for five days in the various centers in Bhutan. Though the time of the workshop is (for some
teachers) was during their summer break, it was mostly at the beginning of the
second semester of the year. The centers for workshops were properly planned,
to get entitlement or TA DA, teachers were sent a little far away from their
school. For example, teachers of Darla MSS were sent to Phuntsholing and Chukha
and likewise, Chukha schools were sent to Gedu. It was truly heartwarming to
have arranged in that way, and many teachers were thankful for it. For that, all
teachers were entitled to all kinds of benefits. If not, it could be
otherwise, if it was to be steered by bad hands.
It was clearly announced and
published in the newspapers how much budget that our new education minister
had invested for teachers. “In order to develop the capacities of teachers, Nu
116.8 million (M) has been allocated this year from just around Nu 8M last
year. The ministry in 2016 will initiate a new pedagogy training for around
9,000 teachers across the country.” (Kuensel, Investing to better teachers, June 6,
2016). We know teachers don’t get any benefits like traveling allowances. Entitlement
of equal TA/DA and Mileage will boost the efficiency and productivity of the civil
servants in Bhutan, thereby the overall performance of the country’s economy will
be benefited. Further, this will also increase the level of confidence, competence,
ethics and integrity across civil servants. Moreover, this might indirectly decrease
the level of corruption and improve the accountability of the civil servants in the
long run. I particularly thank Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuck for his good initiative and
it will definitely boost teachers.
During the pieces of training, we were given sumptuous
lunch and refreshments. Looking at the nature of all the other workshops or
training in the country I didn't expect this to work in the beginning. But I assure
it will work.
But by the end of the workshop, we
felt a certain sense of satisfaction. We learned some new skills and knowledge. We learned
how to apply cooperative learning structures and active learning strategies. And
I don’t want to write that literature here as we got our detailed handouts.
