As part of the “Promoting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Schools: Building on What Children Value and Aspire to Do and Be” (GESI Project), a consultative meeting was organized on May 17, 2025, with school leaders and teachers from five schools in Samtse Dzongkhag. The project, led by Samtse College of Education (SCE), focused on finalizing preparations for the formation of LIKE Clubs, which are scheduled to be launched in participating schools by July 2025.
The meeting brought together five principals, vice principals, and ten designated GESI focal teachers from partnering schools to discuss the LIKE Club Manual, which outlines a weekly schedule of inclusive activities for implementation at the school level. Dr. Kinley Seden and Ms. Tshering Om Tamang also presented key updates on the project’s progress, sharing baseline data insights that reinforced a shared understanding of the GESI Project’s goals among school leaders and teachers.
The session involved a collaborative review of the club activities from the Bhutan and Nepal LIKE club activity books. Since these activities are planned for direct implementation, it was important to engage teachers in a thorough consultation to review and assess their relevance, practicality, and alignment with local school contexts. Teachers carefully examined the materials to ensure their relevance to the local school context and provided valuable feedback. They were also tasked with developing additional school-specific activities to further tailor the manual to their students’ needs.
Reflecting on the importance of the initiative, GESI focal teacher Kuenga Lhamu, from Yoseltse Higher Secondary School, noted that “GESI workshops and curriculum are timely and much-needed interventions in schools, especially to educate students on gender sensitivity, equality, and inclusion.” She further emphasized that “our students are growing up in a world saturated with sexualized content but receive little meaningful education on boundaries, gender sensitivity, and emotional maturity.”
Echoing the importance of the initiative, another teacher, Dawa Tshering from Tashithang Middle Secondary School, emphasized, “Inclusion and gender equality are not add-ons but the starting point of real progress.”
In addition to club planning, the upcoming inter-school GESI video competition was also announced, with details shared on submission guidelines, judging criteria, and grade-based categories to encourage more student participation.
With strong engagement from school leaders and focal teachers, the clubs are poised to play a central role in promoting Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, student well-being, and awareness across schools in Samtse.
