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Education in Bhutan

Culture, Schooling, and Gross National Happiness

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Editors:
  1. Matthew J. Schuelka

    1. School of Education, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

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  2. T.W. Maxwell

    1. School of Education, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • The first comprehensive overview of the Bhutanese education system
  • Offers a unique exploration of the challenges and opportunities within the Bhutanese education system through the lens of culture and Gross National Happiness philosophy
  • Stimulates debate in Bhutan on the place of education in the new democracy and highlights the issues that need to be addressed in the future

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Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xx
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  2. Education in Bhutan: Introduction

    • Matthew J. Schuelka, T. W. (Tom) Maxwell
    Pages 1-15

  4. Contemporary Issues

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 125-125
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    2. Rural Life and Modern Formal Schooling in Bhutan

      • Akiko Ueda
      Pages 127-137

    3. Conditions of Happiness: Bhutan’s Educating for Gross National Happiness Initiative and the Capability Approach

      • Pema Tshomo
      Pages 139-152

    4. Teacher Understanding of the Educating for Gross National Happiness Initiative

      • Kezang Sherab, T. W. (Tom) Maxwell, Ray W. Cooksey
      Pages 153-168

    5. Non-Formal Education in Bhutan: Origin, Evolution, and Impact

      • Thakur S. Powdyel
      Pages 169-180

    6. Children with Disabilities in Bhutan: Transitioning from Special Educational Needs to Inclusive Education

      • Rinchen Dorji, Matthew J. Schuelka
      Pages 181-198

    7. Early Childhood Care and Development in Bhutan: Mind the Gap(s)

      • Tshering Wangmo, Margaret Brooks
      Pages 199-213

    8. Gender and Education in Bhutan

      • Kinley Seden, T. W. (Tom) Maxwell
      Pages 215-228

    9. Conclusion: Key Outcomes, Challenges, Ways Forward, and Future Research

      • T. W. (Tom) Maxwell, Matthew J. Schuelka
      Pages 229-239

  5. Back Matter

    Pages 241-252
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Keywords

About this book

Bhutan is a country in the Himalayas with a relatively new education system and a unique governmental philosophy known as Gross National Happiness. This book explores the history, culture, challenges, and opportunities of schooling in Bhutan. It discusses topics including historical perspectives on Buddhist monastic education, the regional and international influence on educational development, traditional medical education, higher education, and the evolution of Bhutanese educational policy, to name but a few. It also investigates contemporary challenges to schooling in Bhutan such as adult education, inclusive education, early childhood education, rurality, and gender. Throughout the book, the developmental philosophy of Gross National Happiness is explored as a novel and culturally vital approach to education in Bhutan. The majority of the authors are prominent Bhutanese scholars and educational leaders, with select non-Bhutanese international scholars with strong links to Bhutan also contributing. This book is a valuable resource not only for those specifically interested in education in Bhutan, but for anyone with an interest in South Asian studies, general Asian studies, educational development, comparative education, Buddhist education, and the Gross National Happiness development philosophy.

Editors and Affiliations

  • School of Education, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Matthew J. Schuelka

  • School of Education, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

    T.W. Maxwell

About the editors

Matthew J. Schuelka is a Lecturer at the School of Education, University of Birmingham, UK. Previously, he served as Lecturer and Head of the Sociology and Political Science Department at Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan. Matt has also taught various disciplines at different levels in the United States and Malaysia, and holds advanced degrees in Special Education and Comparative International Education from the University of Vermont, Stanford University, and the University of Minnesota. He has worked in numerous countries as a researcher and inclusive education consultant, most notably in the United States, United Kingdom, Serbia, Zambia, India, Malaysia, and Bhutan.  


T.W. (Tom) Maxwell has recently retired from the University of New England, Australia, but he continues to work in Bhutan and in other international settings and also to publish in the area of international education – especially education in Bhutan, doctoral education, and action research.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Education in Bhutan

  • Book Subtitle: Culture, Schooling, and Gross National Happiness

  • Editors: Matthew J. Schuelka, T.W. Maxwell

  • Series Title: Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1649-3

  • Publisher: Springer Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Education, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2016

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-10-1647-9Published: 26 September 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-10-9411-8Published: 23 June 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-10-1649-3Published: 16 September 2016

  • Series ISSN: 1573-5397

  • Series E-ISSN: 2214-9791

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XX, 252

  • Number of Illustrations: 22 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: International and Comparative Education

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