Impact of Special Education Needs (SEN) program implementation on students’ academic and behavioral outcomes at GonpaSingma Lower Secondary School

ABSTRACT : This qualitative case study investigates the implementation and impact of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) program at Gonpasingma Lower Secondary School (LSS), the first officially designated inclusive school in Pemagatshel district, Bhutan. The program aims to provide equitable education to children with different disabilities like autism, Down syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities since its beginning in 2015. The study is based on semi-structured interviews with four parents, four SEN teachers and four SEN provider teachers and classroom observations. The study investigates academic and behavioural outcomes, the quality of support services and perceptions of stakeholders. The results demonstrate that through the use of individualised strategies, visual aids, positive reinforcement and whole school collaboration, there are significant improvements in learners’ communication, self-care, emotional regulation, social participation, confidence and early academic skills. However, progress is patchy, hampered by a lack of trained SEN staff, limited access to therapeutic services, lack of assistive resources and poor home-school partnerships. Parents said they wanted practical advice and capacity building to support learning at home, while teachers wanted more specialists, continuous professional development and adapted facilities. The study emphasises that authentic inclusion is more than just academics and includes functional independence and feeling like a part of the social fabric. The report recommends strengthening staffing, access to therapists, parent workshops, IEPdriven support and infrastructure to sustain inclusive education in rural Bhutan. These results contribute to the scant empirical literature on the implementation of SEN in Bhutan and inform policy revisions to meet national and global inclusion goals.