A Bhutanese study: Educating for Gross National happiness?

Author(s):

Lone Krogh Kjær-Rasmussen(presenting / submitting)Krishna Prassad Giri

Conference:

ECER 2015

Network:

03. Curriculum Innovation

Format:

Paper

Session Information

03 SES 03 B, School Curriculum and the Integration of 21st Century Skills

Paper Session

Time:

2015-09-08

17:15-18:45

Room:

326.Oktatóterem [C]

Chair:

Francisco Sousa

Contribution

A Bhutanese study: Educating for Gross National happiness – what does it mean – how does it work - and how can it lead to change?

Lone Krogh & Krishna Prassad Giri

In the paper the socio-cultural background for implementing Gross National Happiness (GNH) policies in Bhutan will be discussed. The government strategy for “Educating for GNH” will be expounded and, in relation to this, the role of upper secondary schools in Bhutan, teachers and necessary curriculum changes. In doing so, focus is on the concept of happiness, trying to understand its role in the Bhutanese education system. Challenges arising from the fact that in Bhutan the ideology of Happiness currently plays a key role, together with educating children and young people for participation in continuously developing Bhutan in an international context are raised. At the same time, Bhutanese values and rules, based on Buddhist philosophy, must be upheld. This may seem very complex and mutually antagonistic?

The presentation draws on results from research done in collaboration between 4 Danish and 4 Bhutanese researchers. In doing this it will be discussed how happiness is understood as a political and ideological concept and how the strategy of GNH is being implemented and perceived by principals and teachers in selected Bhutanese upper secondary schools. A range of questions can be raised; how can we understand the concept of GNH and Educating for GNH, how is it possible to infuse happiness in the school system, which are the major challenges, how are principals and teachers educated and prepared for the new strategy, which are the consequences regarding curriculum change and the environments?

Method

In answering the research questions data material, which include empirical data from 8 selected upper secondary schools spread all over Bhutan will be the main sources. Principals, teachers, students and parents have been interviewed in 2012/2013 individually and in groups. Furthermore classroom observations have taken place. Finally literature review and readings of formal documents, which describe and analyse policies, principles, strategies and philosophies related to the implementation of Gross National Happiness and Educating for Gross National happiness have been included.

Expected Outcomes

Based on comprehensive date material (interviews and observations) we find that implementing the policies and ideologies of GNH in education has put a lot of pressure on principals and teachers in acting accordingly and it obviously may take some time before it will be possible Making GNH policies something much more than political intentions. We find that it obviously is difficult to integrate GNH principles in in teaching some specific subjects, - to integrate GNH into teaching different subjects means that it will be necessary over time to put very much focus and resources on rewriting curriculum, and offering teachers the opportunity for continuously developing their abilities and competences due to the overall intentions. As far as we can see, the teacher training programmes in Bhutan are already in many ways aiming at doing this as these programmes are continuing being developed. Thse are just some of the conclusions. Our concerns are on how principals and teachers of all kinds in schools generally can be further prepared for the task of educating for GNH. We find that it will be important to integrate this approach further in teacher qualification activities more generally, and we underline the importance of developmental programmes to raise awareness among the current teaching body on practising the principles of Educating for GNH, if Bhutan wishes to achieve a successful balance between being a country that follows the noble principles of GNH and one that also plays an important role in global development.

References

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Author Information

Lone Krogh Kjær-Rasmussen (presenting / submitting)

Aalborg University

Department for Learning and Philosophy

Aalborg

Krishna Prassad Giri

Samtse Teacher College, Royal University of Bhutan

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