Education Spending — 2017
The education system in Bhutan consists of general education, monastic education and non-formal education. The CEQ analysis only considers general education as it represents the formal education system and accounts for an overwhelming majority of government education spending. General education spans all stages of education from early childhood care education to tertiary/technical/vocational education. Most schools in Bhutan are public and provide everything free of charge, from textbooks to boarding facilities. In FY2016-2017, 5.9 percent of GDP was spent on education (0.9 percent of GDP on tertiary education).10 While public education is provided for free, students are encouraged to share a small portion of cost based on their financial ability.
Education Spending — 2022
Socio-Economic Indicators — Annual Education Statistics 2022 (Table E)
| Indicator | Value | Data Year |
|---|---|---|
| National Literacy Rate (6 yrs+) | 71.4% | 2017 |
| General Literacy Rate (Male) | 78.1% | 2017 |
| General Literacy Rate (Female) | 63.9% | 2017 |
| Adult Literacy Rate (15 yrs+) | 66.6% | 2017 |
| Adult Literacy Rate (Male) | 75.0% | 2017 |
| Adult Literacy Rate (Female) | 57.1% | 2017 |
| Youth Literacy Rate (15–24 yrs) | 93.3% | 2017 |
| Youth Literacy Rate (Male) | 93.1% | 2017 |
| Youth Literacy Rate (Female) | 93.0% | 2017 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 72.2 Yrs. | 2021 |
| Children <5 yrs stunted | 21.2% | 2015 |
| Children <5 yrs wasting | 4.3% | 2015 |
| Under-5 Mortality Rate | 28.5 | 2019 |
| Education exp. as % of govt. expenditure | 14.30% | FY2021/22 |
| Education exp. as % of GDP | 5.55% | FY2021/22 |
Chapter 12: Budget and Expenditure — CEQ 2022
The Bhutanese education system is built upon the concept of free services from primary to tertiary level. Students are not only given free tuition but also provided with textbooks, sports-items and learning materials as well as stationery and boarding facilities and food based on need. At the same time, cost-sharing is also encouraged amongst those populations that are in a position to contribute to their children's education. Accordingly, students studying in the urban areas arrange their own stationery.
In general, all students are required to contribute to the School Development Fund at the following rates:
- Primary Schools (PP-VI): Nu 30/- per student per annum
- Lower Secondary Schools (VII-VIII): Nu 100/- per student per annum
- Middle and Higher Secondary Schools (IX-XII): Nu 200/- per student per annum
Annual Budget & Expenditure by Department — Table 12.2 (FY2021-22)
| Department | Budget | Expenditure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Capital | Total | Current | Capital | Total | |
| Secretariat | 52.241 | 62.024 | 114.265 | 50.772 | 48.018 | 98.791 |
| Dept. of Adult and Higher Education | 20.910 | 321.304 | 342.214 | 19.923 | 305.605 | 325.528 |
| Dept. of School Education | 742.287 | 1,762.543 | 2,504.83 | 488.225 | 1,273.062 | 1,761.287 |
| Dept. of Youth and Sports | 34.265 | 29.986 | 64.251 | 31.818 | 24.825 | 56.643 |
| Dept. of School Curriculum and Professional Dev. | 35.996 | 53.264 | 89.26 | 35.318 | 37.410 | 72.728 |
| Total | 885.699 | 2,229.121 | 3,114.82 | 626.057 | 1,688.921 | 2,314.979 |