As private tuition continues to gain popularity among students seeking additional academic help, concerns over equal access to learning opportunities have prompted the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to reinforce academic support within schools.
In many urban areas, supplementary tuition has become an increasingly common part of students’ educational journey, offering additional instruction beyond regular classroom teaching. However, not every family is able to bear the financial cost of private tutoring, raising concerns that students from lower-income households may have fewer opportunities to receive extra academic assistance.
Education and Skills Development Minister Yeezang De Thapa said the ministry recognises the challenge and is working to ensure that students who need additional help are supported through the school system itself.
“We do have concerns about equality when some students can afford tuition while others cannot. Schools have been providing remedial classes and other academic support to students who are struggling. Now, the Ministry is strengthening these efforts to support students who cannot afford paid tuition,” Lyonpo said.
According to the ministry, the strengthened school-based support is intended to ensure that students requiring additional academic guidance can access it regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. The initiative builds upon remedial classes and other learning support programmes already being offered in schools.
While efforts are being expanded within schools, the government has also introduced regulations aimed at improving the quality and safety of supplementary education services operating outside the formal school system.
Since 2025, all supplementary education service providers have been required to register with the Bhutan Qualifications and Professional Certification Authority (BQPCA). Registered centres must comply with standards covering tutor qualifications, class sizes, learner welfare, child protection and safety requirements.
Currently, 16 Supplementary Education Service Centres are registered across the country under the regulatory framework.
Despite the introduction of quality standards, the ministry does not regulate the fees charged by private tuition providers. Tuition centres remain free to determine their own pricing, meaning the cost of supplementary education continues to vary according to individual service providers.
The ministry’s focus, officials say, is therefore on strengthening equitable academic support within schools while ensuring that privately operated supplementary education services meet established standards for quality and student welfare.
