Western-style education was introduced to Bhutan during the reign of Ugyen Wangchuck. Until the 1950s, the only formal education available to Bhutanese students, except for private schools in Ha and Bumthang, was through Buddhist monasteries. In the 1950s, several private secular schools were accomplished without government support, and several others were accomplished in major district towns with government backing. By the late 1950s, there were 29 government and 30 private primary schools, but only about 2,550 children were listed. Secondary education was available only in India. Eventually, the private schools were taken under government supervision to raise the quality of education provided. Although some primary schools in remote areas had to be closed because of low attendance, the most remarkable modern developments in education came during the time of the First Development Plan, when some 108 schools were operating and 15,100 students were listed.

Most Bhutanese students being educated abroad received technical training in India, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United States. English-speaking countries attracted the majority of Bhutanese students. The large majority returned to their homeland.

The adult literacy rate was around at 48 % in 2000. Until the early 1960s no formal schools existed in Bhutan except for religious ones. Since that time the nation has developed free and noncompulsory schooling that provides both primary and secondary education. Due in part to a deficiency of access to facilities, the attendance rate at Bhutan’s schools is comparatively low.