Marking The Golden Jubilee Of Paro College Of Education

Excitement, anticipation, uncertainty – the feelings of an Australian university student and New Colombo Plan scholarship recipient about to embark on a life-changing journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan. My philosophy upon arrival was one of open-mindedness – the possession of an authentic desire to learn as much about the culture, language, and teaching profession as possible throughout my journey, emanating from an innate desire to learn, surrender, and discover wholeheartedly. 

 “Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they’re open”

Warmth, joy, confidence – sentiments felt upon meeting PCE president Sir Dorji Thinley, Ms. Kezang Choden, each Dean of education, my inspiring tutors and incredibly welcoming classmates. I experienced an immediate sense of belonging, connection and contentment as a result of the kindness bestowed upon me. The most significant aspect of my time at PCE was the incredible manner in which Buddhist philosophy was intricately interweaved with the delivery of content. It became evident that attending educational institutions within Bhutan educates the individual holistically – developing mind, body, and spirit to achieve one’s full potential. These fundamentally Bhutanese values of compassion, kindness and gratitude permeated through my experience, teaching me to incorporate this into my own teaching approach.