Transformative Pedagogy -- 2016

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.

Thank You My Teachers

As I write today here, and as I write about my Teachers’ Day, all that comes to my mind is ‘Thank you,’ ‘Thank you,’ and ‘Thank you.’ Today, I write words of excitement and appreciation. Words devoted to many great souls. This short note is in honor of all my teachers and professors and the life you all have made me. Truthfully, a million pages of gratitude are not enough.

I thank YOU ALL a million times, for what you have done is sometimes more than anyone else could. When I first came to the class, I was nervous and skeptical, but there was just this huge abundance of fine people who helped me to get my groundings. Thank you all for teaching, thank you all for guiding, thanking you all for showing a smooth path in learning and reading literature. You have been the best friend, a teacher, a guide, and a parent.

Thank you for all that you are and for all that you did, and for caring us. We know your work is more to you than just a job, it is a calling, and for that, we are so grateful for your sacrifices.

I have learned to read better. I wouldn’t have understood that the world is round, or there are many countries like ours, or who is me? What? How? Why? and etc, etc if it weren’t taught by you all.

You all deserve a huge congrats and thanks. Who could forget our amazing trip? Who could forget our noisy class? Who could forget the charming and angry faces, where you get annoyed with too many works and responsibilities? There are many good things to be remembered…

I probably can’t thank you all enough.

Thank you for everything, my teachers.

I am happy because while I cannot be with you all with me, I can at least keep the memories with me always in my heart.

Thank you very much, Mrs, and Mr. xyz.

THANK YOU

As I write today here, and as I write about my graduation and departure, all that comes to my mind is ‘Thank you,’ ‘Thank you,’ ‘Thank you.’ Today I write words of excitement and appreciation. Words devoted to many great souls. This short note is in honor of you all my professors and the life you all have made me. Truthfully, a million pages of gratitude are not enough. (See my Professors profile link:five-dons-of-aims )

I thank YOU ALL a million times, for what you have done is sometimes more than anything. When I first came to the literature class, I was nervous and skeptical, but there were just these huge abundance of fine people who helped me to get my groundings. Thank you all for teaching, thank you all for guiding, thank you all for showing a smooth path in reading literature. You have been my best friend, teacher, guide, and parent.

Teachers and students of the graduating cohort of 2013, thank you for all that you are and for all that you did, and for caring about us. We know your work is more to you than just a job, it is a calling, and for that, we are so grateful for your sacrifices.

I have learned to read better. I wouldn’t have understood the depth of literature; British lit, American lit, Indian lit, World lit, Criticism, linguistics, Post Colonial Studies, Teaching English Language and Literature, Gender, Communication, etc if it weren’t tutored by you all.

You all deserve a huge congrats and thanks. Who could forget our amazing trip? Who could forget our noisy class? Who could forget the charming and angry faces, where you got annoyed with too many works and responsibilities? 

There are many good things to be remembered…

I probably can’t thank you all enough.

Thank you for everything, my teachers.

I am happy because while I cannot take you all with me, I can at least keep the memories with me always in my heart.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Mamta, Mr. Prabha, Mr. Samuel, Mrs. Parveen, Mrs. Chitra, Mr. Umashankar, Ms, Charita, and others.

A Cohort of Graduate Students with some Lecturers.

Blog and block from blockage

There are many worlds in the net world. The world of Twitter to twit, the world to blog for the bloggers, the world of Facebook for face time or-faced and Google to goof off with unwanted information, and yahoo to tell you tai-ho-a. And other scores of inactive terms carping to click.

Blog. And what I would like to call, ‘Blog and block from the blockage’ of knowledge is the recent site I am using and it will be of another addition of fun and weight - the weight to my body as well as weight to my mind! Sitting in front of a laptop and writing, reading is rewarding for intellectual growth but blog, twit, goof…what's not in the body.

Anyways, hope to have a good time; what's matter, at last, is not health and wealth but good times. Thank you Monu Tamang, my sincere and dedicated student for introducing me. I believe in you and am proud of you.