The Bhutan Multigrade Attachment Program

Abstract

The Bhutan Multigrade Attachment Program (BMAP) is a professional development program run by the University of New England in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The program aims to enhance Bhutanese educators' knowledge of and skills in multi-grade (MG) teaching techniques in primary schools. I have been involved in this program since 1998 as a lecturer/ presenter, and since 2002 as the coordinator of the program. In this chapter I describe the origins, characteristics and developments of the program over the last ten years, and outline the philosophical underpinnings to the partnership. I also take the opportunity to reflect on the program's effectiveness as a professional development model.