ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the question of tensions between tradition and modernisation in the arena of modern education in Bhutan a country where policy suggests that tensions exist and has long articulated a pressing need to achieve a balance or synthesis between the heritage of the past and a programme of modernization'. It investigates the perceptions and experiences of political and policy officials, education leaders, and teachers in Bhutan all of whom are charged with strik[ing] a balance between progressive development and preserving the tested value system of a traditional society'. The book shows how stake-holders across Bhutan's education sector attempt to navigate particular understandings inherent in educational materials and techniques from the West in the context of globalisation, where education and society is increasingly influenced by outside ideas.
