Skip to main content

Gender and Education in Bhutan

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Education in Bhutan

Abstract

There is a growing body of research on gender and education around the world, but there is little empirical evidence in Bhutan that provides a realistic status of gender circumstances in Bhutan. Following the idea that gender is socially constructed, this chapter seeks to gather gender studies and issues into a more focused perspective by combining previous work into themes focused upon education. This chapter also analyzes existing policies and major outcomes of the education sector in Bhutan. Broadly, gender issues have been largely addressed in primary and lower secondary education in terms of enrollments and achievement, but less so in higher secondary school and in the tertiary sector. However, national policies need to be followed through with the development of congruent institutional policies and practices, together with personal practices focusing on ‘taken-for-granteds’, to address gender inequities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • BCSEA [Bhutan Council for School Examinations & Assessment]. (2014). Pupil performance report (Vol. 8). Thimphu: BCSEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • BBS [Bhutan Broadcasting Service]. (2015). Talk show on gender, domestic violence and women empowerment by RENEW. Thimphu: BBS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chevannes, B. (1999). What we sow is what we reap: Problems in the cultivation of male identity in Jamaica (Grace, Kennedy Foundation Lecture Series). Kingston: Grace, Kennedy Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crins, R. (2004). Religion and gender values in a changing world. In Karma Ura & Sonam Kinga (Eds.), The spider and the piglet: Proceedings of the First International Seminar on Bhutan Studies (pp. 581–596). Thimphu: Centre for Bhutan Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, C. (2013). The higher you go, the wider the gap. In CEDA [Committee for the Economic Development of Australia], Women in leadership: Understanding the gender gap (pp. 21–32). Melbourne: CEDA,

    Google Scholar 

  • GNHC [Gross National Happiness Commission]. (2013). Eleventh Five-Year Plan document. Thimphu: GNHC.

    Google Scholar 

  • GNHC/NCWC/RGOB [Gross National Happiness Commission/National Commission for Women in Children/Royal Government of Bhutan]. (2008). National plan for action on gender. Thimphu: GNHC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jha, J., & Kelleher, F. (2006). Boy’s underachievement in education: An exploration in selected commonwealth countries. London: Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, G. (1992). Contemporary western European feminism. London: Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • KGUMSB [Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan]. (2014). Conditions of service. Thimphu: KGUMSB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinley Seden, Willert, S. & Dorji Shemgang. (2015). Impact of women’s education on the academic achievement of their children in Samtse Dzongkhag: An enquiry (work in progress).

    Google Scholar 

  • Klasen, S. (2005). Bridging the gender gap to promote economic and social development. Journal of International Affairs, 58(2), 245–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maatta, S., & Lyckkage, E. D. (2011). The influence of gender in academia: A case study of a university college in Sweden. Equality Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 30(5), 379–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, T. W. (2008). Bhutan. In I. Epstein (General Ed.), J. Pattnaik (Volume Ed.), The Greenwood encyclopedia of children’s issues worldwide: Asia and Oceania (pp. 55–77). New York: Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, T. W., Deki C. Gyamtso, Kinley Seden, Tshering Choeden, Namgay Lhamo, Ugyen Tshomo, Sangay Tshechu, Neyzang Wangmo, & Dawa Lhamo. (2015). Experiences of becoming and being academic women in Bhutan. Bhutan Journal of Research and Development, 3(2), 13–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, T. W., Rinchen, P., & Cooksey, R. W. (2010). Evolutionary trajectories in school assessment systems: The case of Bhutan. Asia-Pacific Journal of Education, 30(3), 273–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MoE [Ministry of Education]. (2008). Education without compromise. Thimphu: MoE.

    Google Scholar 

  • MoE. (2012). National education policy. Thimphu: RGoB.

    Google Scholar 

  • MoE. (2014a). Annual education statistics. Thimphu: RGoB.

    Google Scholar 

  • MoE. (2014b). Bhutan education blueprint 2014–2024. Thimphu: Ministry of Education, RGoB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narayan, S., Rao, N., & Khan, A. L. M. (2010). Gender, equality and education: A report card on South Asia. Kathmandu: Digiscan Pre-press PVT. Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • NCWC [National Commission for Women and Children]. (2008). Study of gender stereotypes and women’s political participation (women in governance). Thimphu: NCWC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nima Tshering (2014). Informing the blueprint: Bhutan’s strategy for girls’ high-quality learning outcomes. Retrieved on March 10, 2015, from: http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2014/12/girls-high-quality-learning-outcomes-tshering

  • NSB [National Statistical Bureau]. (2010). Annual Dzongkhag statistics. Thimphu: NSB.

    Google Scholar 

  • NSB. (2011). Annual Dzongkhag statistics. Thimphu: NSB.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development]. (2011). Report on the gender initiative: Gender equality in education, employment and entrepreneurship. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phuntsho Choden. (2012). Gender gap in household investment: A case study on Bhutan. Unpublished Masters of Business thesis. Queensland University of Technology: Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Planning Commission. (1999). Vision 2020: A vision for peace, prosperity and happiness. Thimphu: RGoB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddock, R. (2009). Gender and achievement in higher education. Trinidad/Tobago: Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators (ACHEA).

    Google Scholar 

  • RGoB [Royal Government of Bhutan]. (2001). The gender pilot Study. Thimphu: RGoB.

    Google Scholar 

  • RGoB. (2003). Education sector strategy: Realizing vision 2020–policy and strategy. Thimphu: RGoB.

    Google Scholar 

  • RGoB. (2008). The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Thimphu: RGoB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinchen, S. (2001). Bhutanese high school girls’ perceptions of science and the impact of science on career choice. Unpublished thesis for the Master of Education degree, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roder, D. C. (2011). “Girls should come up”: Gender and schooling in contemporary Bhutan. Doctoral dissertation. Arizona State University: Tempe, AZ.

    Google Scholar 

  • RUB [Royal University of Bhutan]. (2003). Royal charter. Semtoka: RUB.

    Google Scholar 

  • RUB. (2006). Wheel of academic law. Semtoka: RUB.

    Google Scholar 

  • RUB. (2014). RUB strategic plan. Thimphu: RUB.

    Google Scholar 

  • SIGI [Social Institutions and Gender Index]. (2015). Social institutions and gender issues. Paris: OECD. Retrieved on May 4, 2015, from http://www.genderindex.org/country/bhutan

  • Sonam Wangmo. (2004). Country case: Bhutan. In Sonam Wangmo, S. Violina, & M. M. Haque (Eds.), Trend and status of gender perspectives in the ICT sector: Case studies in Asia-Pacific countries (pp. 26–66). Bangkok: International Telecommunications Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonam Wangmo, & Gill, S. K. (2011, July 4). Invisible women of Bhutan and gross national happiness. Conference paper presented at the Nottingham University Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinha, C. (2009). Effects of education and ICT use on gender relations in Bhutan. Information Technologies and International Development, 5(3), 21–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDP [United Nations Development Programme]. (2015). Achieve, universal primary education – Where are we? Retrieved on August 6, 2015 from: http://www.undp.org/content/bhutan/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg2/

  • UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation]. (2015). Gender equality in education. Retrieved on May 4, 2015, from: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/gender-and-education/browse/2/

  • UNESCO. (1999). Gender Equality and Equity. A summary review of UNESCO’s accomplishment since Fourth World Conference on Women. Beijing: China.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNFPA [United Nations Population Fund]. (2005). Frequently asked questions about gender equality. Retrieved on May 4, 2015, from: http://www.unfpa.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-gender-equality

  • UNGEI [United Nations Girls Education Initiative]. (2009). Towards gender equality in education: Progress and challenges in Asia-Pacific Region. Kathmandu: UNGEI & UNICEF.

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Brink, M., & Benschop, Y. (2012). Slaying the seven-headed dragon: The quest for gender change in academia. Gender, Work & Organization, 19, 71–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO [World Health Organisation]. (2015). Gender, women and health. Paris: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2013). Education and economic empowerment of women in Bhutan could address the gender gap in happiness. Retrieved June 22, 2015, from: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/12/04/education-economic-empowerment-women-bhutan-gender-gap-happiness

  • Zeppa, J. (1999). Beyond the sky and earth: A journey into Bhutan. Toronto: Doubleday Canada.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kinley Seden .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kinley Seden, Maxwell, T.W. (2016). Gender and Education in Bhutan. In: Schuelka, M., Maxwell, T. (eds) Education in Bhutan. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 36. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1649-3_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1649-3_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-1647-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-1649-3

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics