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VOL. 5 No. 2 SUMMER 2001 Edited by: Tsering Phuntsok (E.O.) Designed by: Tenzin Wangdak (webmaster)
Education minister Visits Taiwan
Education officers inspect Teacher Training Institutes
The 4th Meeting of NEP Drafting Committee held in Dharamsala
Inservice Training for Tibetan Language Teachers for middle schools
Departmental Briefs
Career Outreach Program in CST Chauntra
TB Control Training for school Nurses
Orientation Course in Math and Science for Primary Teachers
Annual DOE Scholarship for 2001
Fulbright scholarship, 2002
Graduate Degree program
Non-Degree program
Tibetan nominated for World Champion Amateur Poet Award
The award carries prize money of 20,000 US Dollars.
Thupten’s book of poetry, Young Tibet was released last year in Dharamsala on the 50th anniversary of His Hoiness the Dalai Lama’s enthronement. He received his formal education in Tibetan schools at Kalimpong, Dharamsala and Mussoorie.
Thupten has also published a fictional account of his experiences in Tibet Anything for Tibet, My Beloved Country available through Paljor Publications, New Delhi.
Education Minister Visits Schools
Minister Travels to the United states
Education Secretary Visits Chauntra School
Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation School, Clement Town
As a residential cum day co-educational school, the Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation School is administered by the Tibetan community at Clement Town, lead by Ven. D.G.Khochen Rinpoche, Apart from the main school, there are hostels and boarding facilities, which are available within the Tibetan Education Foundation Society and at the Kyitsel-ling Tibetan Children’s Education Center. Both institutions are non-profit organizations dedicated toward the education of Tibetan children. While most Clement Town students attend the school as day scholars, there are also students from all parts of India who live within the hostels.
TNMFS has from Class I to class XII; in each class the enrollment has continued to increase steadily. Today the school houses about 500 students and 30 staff members. When students reach class XII, Arts and Commerce streams are offered. Mr. Paljor is the current school director and Mr. Karma Tensum, the school Principal.
The main strength of the school is its location within a major Tibetan settlement in North India, which makes possible a large degree of parental and community involvement in the education and running of the school. The school benefits greatly from the local resources in its efforts to transmit culture and sense of identity to the children. One of the major strengths of the school is the rich and engaging program of sports and co-curricular activities offered to the students.
DOE and CTSA officials visit schools in North East India
Publications/Projects
In commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Enthronement at the Potala Palace and the 50th Anniversary of His Assumption of State Responsibility, the DoE conducted an English Essay writing contest for students of classes IX & X and a Painting contest for students of classes V & VI on July 15th simultaneously in all schools. The contests were also arranged to promote creative writing, aesthetic development and painting skills among the students. Mr. Hiro Sukeyasu of Japan who has consented to invite the winners of the essay contest to Japan for a short holiday sponsors the contests.
Clothing and Toys to Help The Needy
Addendum
New Publications:
The books released were:
In addition to the monthly children’s Magazine Phayul - Shejai Bangzod, the DoE has also recently published the 11th issue a new issue called Gangjong - a color magazine for children.
The New English-Tibetan Dictionary, released on the eve of the Tibetan New Year (23/2/01) will now undergo its first reprint due to the success of the initial print, which has nearly sold out.
Coming attractions:
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From the 30th of June to the 10th of July 2001, the Education Minister, Mrs. Rinchen K. Choegyal visited Taiwan on the invitation of the Taiwanese ministry of education. The Minister was accompanied by the Education Secretary, Mr. Tsering Dhundup. The Representative at the Tibetan Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Taipei, Mr. Tenzin P Atisha, had arranged the visit. During the visit, the officials called upon the Education Minister and the Vice-Education Minister of Taiwan. They visited Dr. Sun Yat Sen University, Taipei, where earlier, four Tibetan students had undergone higher studies and another four will be joining this year. They were received by Dr. Victor Wei-chi Liu, the president of the university and departmental heads. They also visited various educational institutions and hospital run by the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation and met with the Chief Tzu Chi Master, Cheng Yen. The experience provided DoE officials with a valuable perspective concerning the structure of both public and private schools within the education system of Taiwan.
The fourth meeting of the National Education Policy Drafting Committee was held in Dharamsala on the 12th & 13th of April, 2001. The members deliberated on the preliminary draft of the Education Policy, which was prepared after the third NEP meeting. A final draft titled Tibetan Education Policy in Exile was then prepared. This brings to a conclusion the project, which was initiated in 1997.
The Career Resource Cell in the Department of Education has successfully conducted its 5 days Career Counseling Program in CST Chauntra. The focus of the group was on classes VII & VIII. Counselor Mr. Kalsang Tsewang discussed prevalent issues and concerns regarding the importance of choosing a career; also providing a comprehensive overview of the various subjects being offered; along with possible difficulties students may have when facing examinations. In conjunction with the above mentioned program, Mr. Kalsang Tsewang opened the forum to perspective job opportunities within the Tibetan community for VIIth & VIIIth grade students, including methods of coping with the ever pressing constraints of time management. Not limiting his resources to students, Mr. Kalsang Tsewang also spoke with staff members, holding a discussion concerning ways for improving teaching methods.
Thupten Nyima Chakrishar, a young Tibetan, eighteen years of age, has been nominated for the US-based International Society of Poets World Champion Amateur Poet award. He will be taking part in the 2001 International Society of Poets Summer Convention and Symposium, the most prestigious gathering of poets from around the world in Washington D.C.
The Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation School was founded in 1965 to cater to the primary education of children from early Tibetan settlers in Clement Town, Dehradun. Over the years the school grew into a Senior Secondary School affiliated with the Central Board of School Education, Delhi. The school is one of several Tibetan schools receiving grant in-aid from the Department of Education, CTA and Central Tibetan Schools Administration, New Delhi.
Mr. Anil Kapoor, the Secretary of CTSA, Mr. Tashi N. Rikha, Joint Secretary of the DoE, and Mr. Tsering Phuntsok, Education Officer, paid a visit to the Central School for Tibetans at Darjeeling, Sonada, Ravangla, Kalimpong from the 24th to the 28th of June, 2001. During the visit, the dignitaries inspected school facilities and met with staff members. The DoE officials also made a separate visit to the Sambhota Tibetan Schools at Gangtok and Pokhriabong.