Strengthening collaboration for inclusive education in Samtse
As efforts to promote GESI will soon begin to extend beyond schools and into communities, the inclusion of the Dzongkhag Administration emerged as a natural and necessary step. To fulfil this aim, a meeting with Dasho Dzongrab was convened on 23rd May 2025 in Samtse Dzongkhag, bringing together the Dasho Dzongrap, municipality representatives, and the GESI project team led by Dr. Kinley Seden. The purpose of the meeting was to provide Dasho with a brief background of the project, its overall scope, progress of the (GESI) initiative, and to discuss upcoming interventions.
The session began with a thoughtful reflection on the project’s overall progress, bringing attention to important insights drawn from situational analysis and recent baseline data. These findings provided a clear picture of the current landscape regarding gender equality and social inclusion within the five selected schools in the Dzongkhag. The discussion then centered on how to effectively translate this valuable data into practical, context-specific actions that address the diverse and unique needs of each school and its surrounding community.
Participants highlighted the necessity of tailoring interventions to reflect local realities and challenges, ensuring that strategies are both relevant and impactful to the schools as well as the local communities. Moreover, the meeting emphasised the critical importance of fostering strong collaboration between local government bodies and key stakeholders. In doing this, Dasho recommended key people that can be involved from the Dzongkhag such as Gender and Child Focal Point, Community based and Support Service Focal Point, Environment Officer etc. This partnership was seen as essential to the successful implementation and sustainability of project activities, especially with key interventions slated to commence in July 2025.
The leaders were also informed about the planned launch of LIKE Clubs in five pilot schools within Samtse, designed to promote Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) through inclusive activities tailored to each school’s unique environment. This plan was developed based on a consultative workshop held on 17 May 2025, where school leaders and GESI focal teachers refined and adapted the club activities to ensure their relevance and sustainability.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from all participants to continue working collaboratively, ensuring that the GESI initiative effectively responds to local needs and contributes to fostering more inclusive and equitable environments for the school children.
