Five years ago, Prakash had his salary doubled

High up in the Himalayan mountains, between China and India, lies the small country of Bhutan.

Until the early 1960s, there were no formal schools in the country, except for those providing religious education. However, significant progress has since been made in education.

Towards the end of the 20th century, a policy was introduced, directing a large part of the annual state budget toward educational programs.

By the early 2010s, education accounted for about one-fifth of the state's expenditures.

And five years ago, the government decided to double teacher salaries.

– The pay raise has been a shot of energy for the teaching community. It’s about more than just money; it’s a recognition of our role in shaping the nation’s destiny, says Sonam Wangchuk, a high school teacher.

Teachers with up to 10 years of experience received a 35 percent pay increase, those with up to 20 years in the profession received a 45 percent increase, and those with over 20 years were rewarded with a 55 percent raise.

This made teachers the highest-paid in the public sector, along with medical professionals.

Additionally, the government has ensured further increases in education budgets.

– Strengthened our sense of value

The Bhutanese authorities are now working on a ten-year plan, the Bhutan Education Blueprint, which aims to develop the education system.

Many of the initiatives are specifically focused on ensuring school access in remote parts of the country.

In these areas, the shortage of trained teachers has also been critical. As a response, the government has established new teacher training programs, and they see that the pay raise has helped.

– The salary increase has strengthened our sense of value, allowing us to focus entirely on the students and the future generations of Bhutan, says Tashi Dorji, who works in an elementary school.

According to the teachers Utdanningsnytt spoke to, more are staying in the profession, and more newcomers are joining, especially in subjects like science and math.

Bhutanese media also report that more teachers are now moving from private to public schools, and parents are reporting increased teacher engagement.

The teachers also believe that the initiative has significantly impacted how they work. They are using new and more innovative teaching methods. This became particularly noticeable during the pandemic. When schools closed, teachers adopted digital teaching methods.

– The pay raise underscores the government's commitment to education and the empowerment of teachers. It inspires us to try new teaching methods and new ways of working, says college lecturer Kinley Wangmo.