Bhutan Quiz 1

Ethnicity

More closely related to Tibet than India

Matrilineal

Daughter inherits parents’ house. Son has to make his own way and move in with his wife.

Male to Female Ratio

1.01 men to 1.0 women

Marriage

Based off of affection in towns but are arranged in villages

Household

Extended families common, average of 7-9 ppl per household.

Child Marriages

6% of women under 15

26% under 18

official minimum is 18

Divorce rate

3.4%

Poligamy

Used to hold onto land. 1st wife’s permission needed. Polygyny is allowed (1 man 2 wives) but Polyandry is not (1 women 2 husbands)

How many wives/kids did the 4th king have?

4 wives (all sisters); 10 kids

How many wives/kids did the 5th king have?

1 wife (commoner daughter of an airline pilot), vowed to be monogamous. Has two kids: son (older) and daughter (younger)

What happens to Buddhists who marry foreigners?

Denied government positions, and may have government scholarships rescinded, have to repay

Marriage ceremony

Exchanging white scarves, having a cup of tea. After 6 months of living together it is “official”

Names

No last names. people have traditional names given at birth by local lama or parents.

Names are non gender specific.

Relations to other villagers

close relations

Monastic Schools

Monasteries, nunneries

Until 1950 was the only education allowed outside of a few private schools.

enrollment was very low and people went to india for school

Who created the current Bhutan school curriculum in the 1960s?

Fr. John Mackay. (canadian Jesuit)

Canada still solicits and sends teachers to Bhutan

What was the name of the plan to expand education?

The first development plan

What did the first development plan do?

opened 108 schools, enrolling 15,000 students.

It was not required. Only 25% of kids initially enrolled.

It was free tuition, books and food through 10th grade.

Most schools have boarding facilities (majority of high schoolers in boarding facilities)

How many days a week do Buddhists have school?

5 and a half days

half day on saturday for clubs and special events

This year they dropped saturday school.

what are the core subjects in schools?

English, Dzongkha, and Math

what are the secondary subjects in schools?

English literature, Social Studies, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Religion

What are the vocational courses in schools?

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Forestry.

How many high schools are currently in the country and what is the student and teacher demographic?

59,

63% male students, 70% male teachers

What was the literacy rates in 2022?

male: 77% female: 63%

How many males/females have no formal education?

35% of females, 20% of males

9% males have a college degree, 6% females have a college degree

How much of Bhutan’s GDP is put towards education?

5.5%

Studying abroad

Government promotes studying abroad, and will give grants for foreign studies. Most graduates return to live in Bhutan

where will we be

central plains, covering 100+ miles

whats our min and max elevation?

4,000ft and over 12,000 feet

how many square miles?

about 14,825 same size as switzerland

What is the population?

785,000 (and growing)

what is the total elevation span?

322 ft in south and 24840 in North

how much of the country is covered by national parks?

40%, and 64% is covered in forests.

what wildlife lives there?

tiger, leopard, hare, bear, langur, red panda, wild pig, deer, sheep, marmot, wolf, antelope, takin

what is the national animal?

the Takin

Enviromentalism

Bhutan tries very hard to keep native species safe from human actions

what is a national problem?

overcollecting mushrooms.

what are the temperatures?

In july

Paro: 79 H 59 L

Thimphu: 79 H 59 L

Punakha: 86 H 68 L

How many time zones in the country?

1, (GMT +6) 8 hours behind honolulu