How did secular schools change education in Bhutan?

Beginning in the early 1960s, the establishment of secular schools in Bhutan marked a significant departure from the country's previous reliance on religious instruction within Buddhist monasteries. This initiative was part of a broader program of social and economic reform launched by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk to modernize the nation.12

The introduction of these schools fundamentally transformed the educational landscape by:

• Expanding Access: The government established primary and secondary schools throughout the country, moving away from a system that had previously lacked formal schooling.1
• Increasing Literacy: These reforms contributed to a dramatic rise in adult literacy rates and a substantial increase in school enrollment over the following decades.12
• Promoting Gender Parity: By the 2010s, the focus on education led to significant progress in gender equality, with girls outnumbering boys in primary and secondary education.1
• Supporting Higher Education: The development of the secular system facilitated the growth of colleges, such as Sherubtse Degree College, as well as various technical-vocational and teacher-training institutes.1