Education in Bhutan
Partner since:
Total grant support: US$12,941,857
Grant eligibility:
- Multiplier
- System capacity
- System transformation
Coordinating agency: UNICEF
GPE Team lead: Javier Luque
Transforming education in Bhutan
Bhutan Partnership Compact identifies early learning as its priority reform area towards system transformation. The priority is aligned to the 13th Five Year Plan (2024-2029) of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
The priority was identified by the local education group. It recognizes the potential that investing in that education level can create a virtuous cycle of learning within the whole education system in Bhutan.
The decision was based on international evidence and on impact of ongoing interventions in the country. At the same time, as Bhutan's local education group identified the priority, it recognized the little progress that has been made to date on that education level.
Result story
Key data
42%
of children start learning one year before entering primary school
100%
of primary teachers have the minimum required qualifications
22%
of government expenditure on education
Grants
(data as of March 26, 2025)
-
Type: System transformation
Years: 2024 - 2028
Allocation: US$5,000,000
Utilization: US$1,405,070
Grant agent: Save the Children US
-
Objectives
- Universalization of access with equity to early childhood care and development (ECCD) services by 2029.
- Professionalization of ECCD services.
- Strengthened early learning development standards, curriculum framework, guidelines and learning resources.
- Strengthened health and well-being for children in early learning.
- Enhanced gender equality and inclusion in ECCD.
- Enhanced system capacity to support early learning.
Document
-
Type: System capacity
Years: 2024 - 2026
Allocation: US$1,000,000
Utilization: US$103,794
Grant agent: UNICEF
-
Objective
- Build national capabilities to develop, implement and monitor education sector plans and policies and support the system transformation process of the education sector.
Document
-
Type: Multiplier
Years: 2023 - 2026
Allocation: US$3,300,000
Utilization: US$878,145
Grant agent: World Bank
-
Objective
Support building, protecting, and utilizing human capital in Bhutan by:
- Expanded access and professionalization of ECCD
- improving the quality and expansion of ECCD services, and
- The digitization of education for improved student outcomes by improving the use of ICT in education.
Document
Knowledge and innovation
- Bhutan is part of the KIX Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia, and Pacific hub and has a KIX national delegation.
- KIX research projects:
Latest blogs and news
February 05, 2025
Key takeaways from GPE KIX research projects on how to scale the impact of promising or proven innovations on teacher professional development implemented between 2020-2024.
December 12, 2024
How GPE Knowledge and Innovation Exchange is supporting the scaling of promising or proven innovations that address education access and retention for out-of-school children and youth.
January 23, 2024
Bhutan is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change that are affecting many sectors including education. With women and girls facing higher risks, the country is working to reinforce the...