In preparation to launch the new 18 months PgDE programme at Samtse College of Education (SCoE) in 2020, a four days Consultative Workshop on the Integration of Inclusive Education Principles and Ideas in the PgDE Curriculum concluded today. Along with the 32 module writers from the College, the participants consisted of participants from key stakeholder agencies such as the ECCD and SEN Division from the Ministry of Education (MoE), Royal Education Council (REC), Bhutan Council for School Examination and Assessment (BCSEA), teachers from mainstream secondary school teachers, teachers from schools with SEN programmes, special institutes, Civil Society Organisations, and educationists from private institutions and UNICEF Bhutan.

On the opening day of the Workshop on May 8^th2019, the President of the College, Dr. Rinchen Dorji highlighted that this workshop also provides a very good platform to help SCoE develop a pre-service teacher education programme that has gone through a rigorous vetting processes that would contribute towards not only building professionally competent teachers but teachers who possesses the right caliber to create a positive image of teachers in the system – teachers who are proud of being teachers; teachers who carry the heart and soul of teaching; teachers who demonstrates empathetic understanding of not just the students’ learning and developmental needs but who are sensitive and responsive to our young children’s psychological and emotional needs.

Similarly, Dr. Kinzang Dorji, the PgDE Programme Leader said that the consultative workshop is very important for the college because it will help the college in producing the next generation of secondary school teachers who are well grounded on the pedagogical principles and practices, subject contents and as well as other emerging themes of education such as inclusive education.

In his closing remarks of the workshop today, Dr. Rinchen Dorji stated that it is the moral duty and institutional obligation of Samtse College of Education as a key stakeholder in education to partner with all stakeholder agencies to address the pressing issues that are cancerous to the growth of our education system. He also stated that this consultative workshop is a classic initiative considering the success of the College in bringing together representatives from many key stakeholder agencies to help the College in developing the new PgDE curriculum. He thanked all the participants of the undying energy and enthusiasm that each one of them brought to the proceedings and deliberations of the workshop, thus making the workshop highly engaging, interactive, and enriching.

The workshop was conducted in collaboration with UNICEF Bhutan.