Our Story
Paro College of Education is a constituent College of Royal University of Bhutan. Built on the lap of the stunningly beautiful and treasurable Rimpung Dzong, it was established on 4th November 1975 as a pre-school care teacher training centre (TTC), in the current Rinpung campus in Paro, a place known for its rich history, culture and Buddhist heritage. Its founding as a premier teacher training establishment symbolized the Royal Government of Bhutan’s commitment and effort to develop a self-reliant and sustainable education system for the kingdom. The launching of TTC demonstrated yet another of the Royal Government’s bold but wise step in its development journey. On the day of its founding, TTC had only eight female students and a demonstration school.
The College has two main campuses – in Rinpung and Nangka Choeling. The latter was inaugurated by Her Majesty Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck on 18th November 1999. TTC was renamed National Institute of Education (NIE) in 2000 with the introduction of its first bachelor’s programme in education. Following its merger with the Royal University of Bhutan established by a Royal Decree in June 2003, NIE in 2006 became Paro College of Education.
Today the College offers diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and Masters programmes in the high priority areas of early childcare and development, primary education, secondary education in Dzongkha the national language, health and physical education, inclusive education, and educational leadership studies. The programmes are taught through two pathways – fulltime and part-time modes. PCE has a team of academic staff who are active in research and provides policy and programmatic support to government agencies and civil society.