JIGME SHERUBLING HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, 

KHALING, TRASHIGANG, E.BHUTAN

EVER HIGHER! EVER ONWARD!

REV. FATHER WILLIAM MACKEY,

THE FOUNDER AND THE FIRST PRINCIPAL OF JIGME SHERUBLING CENTRAL SCHOOL

Rev. Father William Mackey was born in Montreal, Canada on 19th August 1915. He was a pioneer, a competent educationalist who sowed the seeds of fruitful education in Bhutan. He stands as a unique personality among his contemporaries with his abundant scholastic achievements. As an educationalist, he is peerless with his priceless treasures of knowledge and skills. The mastery he acquired in languages like Dzongkha and Nepali was quite remarkable.

Like William Wordsworth, the poet who is referred to as the high priest of Nature, Rev. Fr. William Mackey established himself in the sphere of education, with a divine vision even to serve the country's future generations. His voice can be heard in the corridors of schools and colleges in Bhutan.

This great architect of education was invited to Bhutan in October 1963 by the Late Prime Minister Jigme Pelden Dorji to kindle a greater love of knowledge among the Bhutanese of Eastern region. Fr. Mackey proved himself to be a man who could achieve that goal. He started his service in Bhutan as the Head Master of Trashigang School in 1964 and later became the Principal of Sherubtse in 1968. Thus he started serving two schools at the same time. In 1976, Rev. Fr. left Kanglung whenit was upgraded as college, insisting that he wanted to be only in a school to serve the Nation. Constantly Fr. Mackey was on a look out for an ideal place in Eastern Bhutan to establish a high school and at last reaching Khaling, he fulfilled his dream and Jigme Sherubling started in 1978.

Needless to mention, Father Mackey's remarkable genius is distinctly reflected on by the succeeding administrators in their own sphere of activities.... inspiring their colleagues all around.....His sense of discipline had a touch of poetry... How instantaneous that this inspiration comes to them all unawares....

He left for Thimpu as an advisor to the Education Director in 1983 and Fr. John Pery replaced him as the Principal of Khaling School. Fr. Mackey later became the Secretary of Bhutan Board of Examination and soon after he occupied the post of the coordinator of the Text books and syllabus committee. Fr. retired officially at the age of 70 and also gained the Bhutanese citizenship on 8th March 1985. In the same year, his "Platinum Jubilee Birthday" was celebrated in Thimpu, attended by foreign dignitaries, friends and former students. Fr.was invited again to service to draft the Education Policy that specially emphasized the class room inspections. He was later appointed as the Chief Inspector, Inspectorate of Schools in 1985. He was also made the Chief Coordinator, Curriculum Development Division. In that post, he looked after the Maths Curricula; later in 1992. Father was honoured with the unique appoint of "Honorary Advisor to Education for Life". He was referred to as the "Roving Ambassador".

So much for Rev. Fr. Mackey's Mission in Bhutan as its worthiest son in every respect. In 1994, the University of New Brunswick awarded Father with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree for his cause in higher education in Bhutan

Appreciating his invaluable service and dedicatio, which was coupled with devotion and determination, the fourth King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk honoured his tutor with the kingdom's prestigious title "Druk Thukshay".

Blazing a trail in the field of good education through his dedicated service, Rev. Fr. William Mackey, the man and the legend left the world in the year 1995.

We the present members of Jigsher family pay our tributes to this great man and educationalist…

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