Wenhui Educational Innovation 2011
« Jigme Losel school students celebrate Wenhui award that recognises educational innovation
Wins Wenhui Educational Innovation 2011 for its midday meal program
Award A lower secondary school in the heart of Thimphu city is in a celebratory mood, not because winter vacations are around the corner, but because their innovative effort to improve education has received international recognition.
The Jigme Losel school at Chubachu has been awarded the winner of Wenhui educational innovation 2011 for their mid-day meal feeding program, under the theme of ‘Education for Learning to Live Together’.
The other winner, along with Jigme Losel, was Sekolah Kebangsaan Ulu Lubai, Malaysia, for community participation in enhancing school performance program.
Of the schools from 78 countries of Asia and Pacific, 15 schools from 10 countries were short-listed including two schools from Bhutan – Jigme Losel for its mid-day meal feeding program and Mongar HSS for working towards gross national happiness.
The program, according to the school principal, Choki Dukpa, came out after a careful study of the children with problems of self-esteem, behaviour and attention in the classrooms.
It was the lack of good and enough food that was affecting the self-esteem of the child, slowing down the learning progress, making them aggressive in nature, and inattentive in the classroom.
“We then decided on the idea of a midday meal feeding program,” the principal said. That was towards the end of 2009.
By early last year, the school started working on the project and looking for donors to support it. The school faculty approached hotels, business organisations and international agencies to support the program, but none came forward.
This year, the school went ahead with the idea, with teachers volunteering to contribute, while they also sought support from parents of the school children. “At the start, we were worried of its sustainability, but gradually there are individuals, who’re willing to support without us having to beg,” the principal said. “This program brought the whole community of children, parents and teachers together and taught the value of sharing and learning to live together.”
Two of the parents volunteered to help in cooking, while some individuals came forward to contribute rice, oil and vegetables. Of the 855 students, 37 and two parents are beneficiaries of the midday meal feeding program. “The two parents also help in cleaning the school,” the principal said.
Sangay Wangmo, 34, a mother of two, is one of the cooks. According to her, the rations are not a problem, with many individuals contributing for the program. Sometimes, parents and teachers bring prepared food to feed the children alternatively when there is no ration. “This time there is a khenpo providing rice and cooking oil, while a vegetable vendor is providing vegetables,” Sangay said.
The Wenhui Award for Educational Innovation, launched in May 2010, aims to value and encourage pioneering innovative practices to improve the access to, quality of teaching and learning processes in education.
The winners were awarded USD 20000, along with a trophy, medal and a certificate.
The prime minister was invited to the school yesterday to take part in celebrating the award. “You have kept in mind the words of our leaders, who cared for the future of the country,” Lyonchhoen said, congratulating the faculty.
Education minister Thakur S Powdyel and secretary Sangay Zam were also present at the celebration.
Source: kuenselonline