The non-formal education programme targets people like Tshering Dem who have seen changes unimaginable in their youth. Today, she wryly notes, parents lie about their children's ages to get them into school. With education declared a national priority in the country's development process, the government established 343 schools and educational institutions in four decades, from primary classes to a college that offers undergraduate degrees in arts and commerce. As the more accessible primary schools quickly filled to capacity, community schools were introduced to cater to remote villages. It firmly believes that, given its small population, the future lies in high quality education to build a qualified and productive work force.
Education is also the foundation on which to strengthen child rights and participation.
There is, however, a long way to go as the country tries to raise the literacy level and catch up with a fast-moving world. Children in many cases have to walk several hours a day to class, in rain or snow, or through rough forest paths infested with leeches. Classrooms are in short supply. Each teacher has an average of 37 students, but the class size goes up to 70 in some schools. Although the government offers special incentives to those who join the profession, it has not been able to train enough teachers.