11th Education Sector Coordination Meeting
The 11th Education Sector Coordination Meeting was convened on May 22 in Thimphu bringing together key stakeholders from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in a concerted effort to advance Bhutan’s education sector.
Chaired by the Ministry’s Hon’ble Secretary, the gathering welcomed Mr. Javier Luque, the GPE Secretariat’s Country Lead for Bhutan and Ms. Andrea James, the Representative for UNICEF Bhutan. Officials from Save the Children Bhutan, the World Bank, Helvetas, WFP-Bhutan and the ministry also participated contributing their insights and expertise.
In his address, Dasho Secretary acknowledged the invaluable support provided by GPE. He emphasized GPE’s crucial contribution to delivering quality education and nurturing inclusive learning environments nationwide. He further highlighted the importance of such partnerships in addressing educational challenges and achieving national educational goals.
A significant highlight of the meeting was the comprehensive updates on various GPE grants including the System Capacity Grant, GPE Multiplier Grant and System Transformation Grant (STG). These grants are expected to substantially boost the strategic plan for education development reflecting Bhutan’s commitment to transforming its educational landscape.
GPE is a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing education systems in developing countries to ensure every child receives a quality education. Since Bhutan joined the partnership in 2009, it has received numerous benefits in infrastructure, professional growth, health and hygiene, and data systems contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The meeting served as an excellent platform to enhance coordination and partnerships among stakeholders. It facilitated fruitful deliberations and discussions on various critical issues further encouraging the collective effort to improve the educational landscape in Bhutan.