Education City Bill and My Yes Vote The Education City Bill 2012 was passed in the National Council with a total of 17 members voting in favor and 2 against the Bill, whereas 3 abstained from voting. A bill has to secure a minimum of 13 votes to pass from the National Council. While there could be 17 different perspectives for voting “YES”, following are some of the reasons for lending my support to the Bill: First, the Tertiary Education Policy requires tertiary education institutions to be established by an Act of Parliament. We have passed a similar Bill last year to establish a medical institution in country. Although some question the need of a bill for every such project, many are of the opinion that a good discourse and debate in Parliament prior to commencement of any such project would ensure greater transparency, consider wider views and yield better understanding. In fact, if our hydropower projects have been channeled through a similar process, deep and diverse reflections both within and outside Parliament would have enriched the discourse by so much. A common wisdom would have prevailed. So I welcome the need of legislation for every such major project. Moreover, this Act is general law meant to govern all other education cities that may be pursued in other area should the Thimphu Education City takes off. Second, given our pristine natural environment and stable political system, one can dare to dream of Bhutan becoming a well-known hub for education with a strong presence of high quality Educational Institutions in the region. Capitalizing on these aspects of our strength is also in line with the compelling call for the need to diversify our economy, which is otherwise heavily dependent on hydropower sector. Such a sector will not only generate revenue but also provide employment opportunities with our policy of employing compulsory professional Bhutanese vis-à-vis certain number of expatriate once the city is established. Besides, the city will be able to provide many employment opportunities in ancillary fields as well. Third, this piece of legislation will facilitate investment in education at various levels from primary to tertiary. Today there are few Bhutanese who can afford their children in some of the exclusive schools around the world. Partly because the high fee structure in addition to huge transportation and accommodation costs make it beyond the grasp of many Bhutanese who are seeking choice of education for their children. The prospect of such a school in the education city will perhaps keep the cost low and make such choice to our children wanting to experience different system of education possible. This will only add to variety and enrich our society in terms of exposure to various education systems. And if those who can afford has the option for such alternative, it will be so much better for the quality of existing government school as it will have less and less students to attend to. Moreover, there are growing numbers of youth graduating from high school and pursuing degrees in questionable universities outside only because the government-run colleges in the country does not have the capacity to take them. Such opportunity in education city in our own country will not only guarantee that the money is well spent but also the parents’ peace of mind. Fourth, the establishment of education city will not come at the cost of the existing education system. In fact, the Education Ministry is the government counterpart of this PPP model. The land is registered in the Ministry’s name and the Ministry is directly receiving certain percentage of profit from the city once the project commences. The profit percent is estimated to be in few billions, which the Ministry has the option to either invest in scholarship for students or in any manner deem fit to enhance the standard of existing education in our own education system. Therefore, all of these will come over and above the current efforts that the Ministry might have to enhance our own education system both in quality as well as accessibility. Fifth, the current project is estimated to be some billion worth wherein the developer will have to not only built the area but also convince the educational institutions abroad to set up their campus here in the education city. The government’s expenditure to provide the basic amenities to the site is very minimal. With such minimal expenditure, even if the project does not turn out well at least the infrastructures will be left behind that could be used by the government for many purposes. Sixth, the impact of huge population of foreign students living in Thimphu once the education city starts functioning seems likely but it is quite difficult to predict in which direction the influence would take place. With innumerable capable TV channels invading our lives right in the corners of our bedrooms, we’re not completely isolated from such influence anyway. However, a study will be commissioned to study the social impact and measures shall have to be put in place to mitigate any possibly impact, if any. Seventh, what is more? The Act has been enacted right under our nose and we had the authority and responsibility to amend, delete and correct the inconsistent and controversial provisions of law. The draft was not curved in stone. Few provisions that are inconsistent with the existing laws such as the provision of the current Land Act have been amended thoroughly to leave no ambiguity. So this bill facilitates investment in education and human resources capacity building while ensuring that existing laws are not broken. My strongest reservation for the project, however, is its location. I have been advocating balanced regional development right from early on. In fact, the National Council, at several occasions, has called upon the Government on the need to spread out business opportunities from Thimphu to other dzongkhags as well. However, this time the decision has already been taken in the National Assembly last year, when the bill was being passed in their House. So this sole reason was not compelling enough to refrain myself from supporting the bill this time. Nevertheless, we have differing views in the House on the issue. Their views are no less unworthy and I have my due respect and regard for all views expressed as it enriches our discourse like always. Perhaps, the Bill might reach the joint session of the Parliament and our positions will become clearer then but the discussion must go on………… tsheringdorji
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 04:00:07 +0000
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