Department web-site launched to be launched in February 2001

The Department of Education will launch its web-site at: www.tcewf.org where in the domain name tcewf stands for Tibetan Children's Education and Welfare Fund. At this initial stage, it is primarily meant to provide online information about various activities and projects under the department and include direct connections to numerous links viz.: introductions, administration, contacts, training, presentations, publications, projects, schools, scholarships, sponsorships, profiles etc. In time the department will rapidly upgrade the site in both content and technical areas.

School Accounts Maintenance Workshop

The Department conducted a seven-day workshop on School Accounts Maintenance from October 19 through 25 at the Institute for Buddhist Dialectics, Sarah, Dharamsala. Principals, headmasters and accountants from schools under Sambhota Tibetan Schools Administration (STSA) and sponsorship secretaries of residential schools under the Central Tibetan schools Administration participated in the workshop. In his inaugural address Education Secretary Mr. Tsering Dhundup emphasized the importance of simplicity, clarity and uniformity in the maintenance of school accounts.

Mr. Kagyu Dhondup, Secretary, Audit Commission, CTA in his valedictory address to the participants stressed upon the significance of the school heads possessing good knowledge of accounts for better accountability and management of the school fund.

Counseling Workshop conducted

Career Counselor Mr. Kalsang Tsewang successfully conducted a week long Counseling Skills Training Workshop from September 4 through 10 at the Central School for Tibetans, Bylakuppee. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Central Tibetan Schools Administration, New Delhi and Center for Research, Education, Service and Training (CREST), Bangalore. Twenty-five teachers and librarians from schools under the CTSA, TCV and STSA took part in the workshop. Various theoretical and practical aspects of counseling were dealt with during the program.

The participants also took part in a daylong program at one of the counseling centers of CREST in Bangalore. Mr. Allan Nazareth, former Indian Ambassador and President of Indo-Tibetan Association, Southern Chapter and Dr. Marie Mascarenhas, Director, CREST addressed the participants.

Career Counselor tour schools in the south

Career Counselor Mr. Kalsang Tsewang made an extensive counseling tour of several southern schools from September 11th through 18th which included CST Mundgod, CST Bylakuppee, CST CVP Bylakuppee, SOS TCV Bylakuppe, CST Gurupura, CST Kollegal, CST Chandragiri, Orissa. He administered Aptitude Tests for the students of grades IX & X to identify the talents, skills, personality, and motivation of individual students in these schools.

Teachers Training Course

The Department is conducting an intensive three month long Teachers Training program in lieu of regular training for 35 untrained primary teachers currently employed in Tibetan schools in Nepal. The program has started on December 20, 2000 at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Sarah, Dharamsala. With the completion of this training course all the primary teachers employed in our schools in Nepal will have acquired training.

Minister attend US conference on residential education

At the invitation of the Washington based International Center for Residential Education, the Education Minister Mrs. Rinchen Khando Choegyal attended the First U.S. Conference on Residential Education for Disadvantaged Children and Youth held at Girard College, Philadelphia, USA from October 15th through 17th, 2000. The minister presented a paper-titled 'Education in Exile: The Vital Role of Residential Schools and Children's Villages'. In addition to American educationists and academics, practitioners in the field from many other countries attended the conference.

Minister and Secretary Visit Tibetan Settlements

The Education Minister Mrs. Rinchen Khando Choegyal and the Education Secretary Mr. Tsering Dhundup made an extensive tour of various Tibetan settlements and institutes in southern India from August 24th through September 4th. Deputy Secretary Mr. Tenzin Lungtok accompanied them.

The itinerary included visits to Mundgod, Bangalore, Mysore, Dharwad, Goa and Hyderabad where they addressed the local Tibetan communities, youth congress members and students attending colleges. The dignitaries also made a courtesy call upon the Education Minister of Karnataka State.

Minister Inaugurate New Girls Hostel

The Education Minister Mrs. Rinchen Khandro Choegyal inaugurated the new girls hostel at the Central School for Tibetans at Paonta Sahib on September 28th. The facility can accommodate over 300 students and will help in overcoming the problem of overcrowding in the other hostels. We are immensely thankful to all our Japanese sponsors who have supported the project through Mr. Hiro Sukiyasu.

School inspection

Mr. Tsering Phuntsok. Education Officer (DOE) along with Mr. S.K.Sharma, Deputy Education Officer, CTSA visited CST Gothangaon and Mainpat from August 5th through 22nd on a joint inspection of schools.

Mr. Tsering Samdup, Education Officer of this Department and Mr. A. S. Rawat, Education Officer, CTSA made a joint inspection of CST Sonada, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Rawangla. They also inspected CST Mundgod and several other primary schools under the schools administration. Mr. Samdup also visited Sambhota Tibetan School at Pokhriabong, Thumi Sambhota Tibetan School, Gangtok and Tibetan School Shillong. The entire visit lasted from August 17th through September 16th.

Mr. Tsering Phuntsok and Mr. Tsering Samdup also visited CST Manali from November 21st through 22nd. Mr. Karma Chungdak, Director STSA accompanied them on this visit.

During the visits, the officers observed the morning assembly sessions, classroom instructions and inspected school facilities. Suggestions were given for further improvement of the schools.

Education Officer attend DPEP at Mysore

Mr. Tsering Phuntsok, Education Officer and Mr. Karma Chungdak, Director, STSA attended the District Primary Education Program (DPEP) at Mysore to observe the innovative teaching methodology called "NALIKALI" (joyful learning) being introduced in primary schools in the nearby rural areas. Principals and Headmasters of several CTSA schools in southern India also attended the program. This innovative teaching method was introduced in 1995 with assistance and guidance from UNICEF.

DoE staff accompanies His Holiness on translation work

Acharya Karma Molham, head of publication section of the department was on official duty at the Kala Chakra Initiation at Kyil Monastery, Spiti Valley in Ladakh recently. Mr. Monlham was the official Hindi translator for the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the large number of local Indians.

Research Officer attend workshop on Child Rights

Mr. Thupten Chodak, Research Officer attended a four day workshop on Conventions on Child Rights at the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, Lucknow (NIPCCD) from November 7th through 10th. NIPCCD in collaboration with UNICEF and Save the Children Fund (SCF) invited over 50 participants primarily represented by senior representatives of NGOS. State heads of UNICEF, SCF and the Joint Secretary, Department of Woman and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India also took part in this workshop. Mr. Chodak made a poster presentation on the education of Tibetan children in exile and had extensive interactions with other participants on matters relating to child education.

Tibetan student invited to study in Israeli school

Ngawang Loser, a Grade Ten student of Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussoorie has been specially invited by Yemin Orde Educational Community, Israel to complete his high school education in Israel. He was one of the students who had visited Israel in May 2000 for the ten-week exchange pilot program. An orphan who came to India in 1994 to study under the care of Tibetan Homes Foundation Ngawang aspires to promote cultural and educational interactions between the two communities and hopes to become the first Tibetan fluent in the ancient Hebrew language.

Tibetan Student Exchange Program

After the successful completion of the pilot program of Tibetan students visiting the Yemin Orde Children's Village, Israel and spending about ten weeks there, the Village and the Department of Education have decided to continue this unique program. After an extensive selection test, 10 students from Tenth Grade have been selected from amongst several schools in India and Nepal. They will undertake a two and half months' educational program in Israel from April to June 2001.

Essay Writing and Painting Competition

An English essay writing competition for students of Grades IX & X and painting competition for students of Grades V & VI were conducted on July 15th which has been dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 60th anniversary of enthronement and 50th anniversary of assuming state responsibility. Essay competition for teachers were also conducted on July 20th. Mr. Hiro Sukeyasu of Japan sponsored the prizes.

Service Award for School Staff

This year's recipients of service awards conferred by the Department of Education to schoolteachers and staff who have completed 25 years service are as follows:

Samdup Dolma, Dechen Dolma, Ngawang Sherab, Lobsang Dhundup, Dekyi Tashi, Tenzin Sangpo, Tashi Tseten, Tsering Dolkar, Tsering Dhundup, Pema Gyaltsen, Penpa Kyipa, Tashi Lhamo, Tsewang Yeshi, Dolma Yangzom (all from TCV, Dharamsala Cantt.); Phuntsok Namgyal (TCV Gopalpur); Ngawang Dorjee (TCV Lower Dharamsala); Tsultrim Choekyi, Khando Yangzom (TCV Patlikul); Kunchok Tsering (Thumi Sambhota School, Gangtok); Thupten Jampa (Tibetan School, Shillong); Gendun Rinchen, Sherab Gyaltsen (THF Mussoorie); Sangmo Dekyi (CST Chandragiri, Orrisa);and Tsering Phuntsok (CST Paonta/DOE).

The award recipients were presented with a service certificate and a traditional Tibetan Thangka as a gesture of appreciation on behalf of all the Tibetan students on September 2, 2000 during the Tibetan Democracy Day function at the respective schools.

Tibetan Language Introductory Course Exam Result

The Tibetan Language Introductory Course Examination for non-Tibetan staff (incentive scheme) working in CTSA schools was conducted on October 25th . This year five staff members appeared and successfully passed the examinations. Our congratulations to Shri. R.K. Srivastava, Principal and Shri. Girishetty, PET of CST Gurupura; Shri. V.K. Mishra, PGT and Shri. S.P. Singh, PGT of CST Mundgod; Shri. D. Mukhopadhyay, Librarian at CST Chandragiri on their success.

The New English Tibetan Dictionary

The New English Tibetan Dictionary compiled by the department is now in print and will be ready by December end. The edition has 904 pages, 60,000 words, 350 illustrations and more than 3000 new Tibetan scientific and technical terms. The dictionary will be available at 50 % discount for Tibetan students. The Tibetan Cultural & Religious Publication Center (TCRPC) or Sherig Parkhang is undertaking its printing and distribution. They can be contacted at: R-28, Ramesh Park, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-110092

Children's Literature Publication

The 10th Gangjong children's magazine and "LEGSbsHADKYIgTAMrGYUD" classical stories of wisdom with illustrations has been published and distributed to all the Tibetan schools.

Tibetan teacher in Nepal felicitated

. Mr. Lobsang Delek, Principal of Namgyal Middle Boarding School in Kathmandu, Nepal was the proud winner of this year's "Nepal Felicitation Award 2000" at a special ceremony on November 2nd where the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala was the guest of honor. The award carries special significance as it is usually awarded to renowned personalities in the field of Arts and Social Service in Nepal. The recipient has been closely associated with Tibetan education for the last 35 years. The Department congratulates him.

Our thanks to Ms. Ingeborg Schaller

Ms. Ingeborg Schaller of 'Body and Balance", Austria has very kindly donated 274 bags and several boxes of used clothing, toys, bedding and shoes. These have been distributed to the poor Tibetan children studying at CST Chauntra most of who are from Tuting, a remote and poor region in the northeastern Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh. In addition, she has also donated several used personal computers and electronic typewriters, which have already been distributed to several schools. The donations will go a long way in improving the welfare and education of the children.

Our thanks to salesforce.com/foundation

The salesforce.com/foundation through the Tibet Fund, New York has very kindly provided the necessary funding for our computer education project for eight Tibetan schools. The process of purchasing the personal computers, installation and providing introductory training for the staff members has been completed in the four of schools under the first phase. This has helped immensely in our effort to bring about uniform development of computer education in our schools.

Tibetan Schools Cultural Meet

The Central Tibetan Schools Administration, New Delhi organized the Tibetan Schools Cultural Meet on October 11-12 at CST Paonta. These meets are conducted at the zone level and at the central level every alternative years primarily to promote and strengthen cultural activities in the schools. The meet generated a lot of enthusiasm among the children from all participating schools. East Zone schools won the senior level championship while North Zone schools won the junior level championship.

Millennium Literary Meet

CST Paonta organized the Millennium Inter-Tibetan School Literary Championship on November 4 and 5. Participants from eleven schools took part in various contest viz. poetry writing, debate, calligraphy, essay writing, quiz, painting and artwork using computer paintbrush were held. The basic objective of the championship was to draw out the talent and skill in the child in a competitive environment. Mrs. Rinchen Khando Choegyal, Education Minister was the guest of honor at the meet. The school's Japanese sponsors Mr. Hiro Sukeyasu and Mr. Takase came all the way from Japan to attend the meet. The championship was dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 60th enthronement anniversary and the 50th anniversary of assuming state responsibility.

STSA Staff Incentive Award

From the year 2000 the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Administration has instituted the annual Staff Incentive Awards one each for teaching and non-teaching staff working in its schools. The names of this year's recipients were announced on 11th September. Mr. Dhundup Shastri, Tibetan language teacher at CST Paonta was awarded the best teachers award while Mrs. Kunsang Tsomo, Accountant, Thumi Samhhota Tibetan School, Gangtok, was awarded the best non-teaching staff award. The award carries an amount of rupees one thousand and a certificate of commendation. A specially constituted committee does the selection based on service record and performance over a period of time.

School Feature: Sera Jhe Secondary School

In 1984 the foundation for Sera Je Secondary School was laid. One of the few unique monastic schools for monks providing modern education along with the spiritual and philosophical subjects required to be studied by any monk. The school is today a model for success. In the initial years the school faced tremendous problems primarily related to infrastructure and staff recruitment considering the unique nature of the school.

The last ten years have seen a major increase in the school enrolment as a result of overall improvement in the facilities being provided in the monastery itself. With recognition from the Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi the school jumped into the mainstream education system and in fact follows the same syllabus as any other regular school today. Currently, with over 555 monk students on roll, the school is trying to further improve the school environment with major investment in new facilities. Under the leadership of the current Principal Acharya Tenzin Sherab the friends and donors of the monastery have been a great help here providing the necessary drive in raising the funds required for implementing the numerous projects.

Perhaps, in years to come we will have new generation of monks who are well versed in the scriptures, the philosophies and of course the modern subjects as well; a rare quality to be admired and perhaps our best hope for a future free Tibet.