VOL. 7 - No. 1	SPRING 2003

His Holiness Inaugurates Teachers Conference
H.H. the Dalai Lama

The Fourth General Conference of Tibetan Teachers was held at Dharamsala from January 2-4, 2003. His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated the conference, which was attended by nearly 400 teachers and administrators from Tibetan schools in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Chairman of Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet) and Mr. Thupten Lungrig, Minister for Education spoke to the participants highlighting the priorities of the Tibetan Government-in-exile.for the education of Tibetan children. On the second day, group discussions among the participants were held on issues of concern viz. decline in the standards of education in general and Tibetan language in particular. On the final day, Prof. Ngawang Samten, Director of Central Tibetan Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarnath; Kasur Jetsun Pema, President of Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) schools and Dr. M.S. Verma, Secretary of Central Tibetan Schools Administration, Delhi presented papers respectively on the importance of Tibetan language; spiritual and physical development of a child; and on the role of teacher/ administrator in the present day society.
The conference ended with the adoption of fifty resolutions aimed at bringing overall improvement in the quality of education in the schools.

Dholanji School Upgraded
The Central School for Tibetans (CST) at Dholanji in Himachal Pradesh was upgraded to secondary school from the beginning of new academic session viz. April 1, 2003 in view of the long standing demand by the Bonpo community settled there and also due to the increasing student strength and adequate existing infrastucture. Established in 1975 as a primary school, it was up-graded to a middle school in 1989. Currently, the school has an enrollment of 350 students. A special function was organised at the school by the local community to celebrate the event which was attended by Menri Trizin Rinpoche, the Chief Abbot of the Bonpo Monastery, Dr. M.S. Verma, Secretary of CTSA, Mr. Tsering Phuntsok, Education Officer of DOE, local officials, students, teachers and parents.

Pre-school Teachers Workshop
A workshop for pre-primary teachers was conducted by DOE at the TCV Montessori Centre, Dharamsala Cantt. from March 19-28, 2003. Forty teachers from 22 schools, mainly CTSA schools, attended the workshop. During the workshop the participants were introduced to new innovative methods for teaching, assessment and evaluation. Education Secretary addressed the gathering during the inaugural function. Mr. Tsewang Yeshi, Executive Director of TCV Schools was the Chief Guest for the valedictory function.
Pre-school teacher workshop

Page No. 2	DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFS

Inspection Of Schools in Mundgod
Dr. M.S. Verma, Secretary, Central Tibetan Schools Administration (CTSA) Delhi and Mr. Tashi N. Rikha, Joint Secretary, Department of Education (DOE), Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) visited the schools in the Tibetan settlement in Mundgod from February 3-6, 2003. They observed classroom teaching, inspected various facilities in the schools and approved the initiation of few new infrastructure projects. During the visit they also interacted with the staff, students and parents representatives.

New Hostel Inaugurated
A three-storied hostel for girls was inaugurated at Sherab Gatsel Lobling (Transit School for new arrivals from Tibet) at Khanyara, Dharamsala on March 23, 2003. Mr. George Gester from Switzerland whose family funded the project inaugurated the hostel. Kalon Thupten Lungrig, Minister for Education and other CTA officials were present on the occasion. The hostel can accommodate 275 girls.

Danish Society Chairman Vist DOE
Ms. Pernille Fogh Christensen, Chairman of Danish Tibetan Cultural Society, Denmark visited Dharamsala from April 4-17, 2003. It was her first visit since she took charge in September last year. At DOE, she met with the education minister, education secretary and other officials and held discussions on the various projects supported by the society. She also visited some of the schools and organisations in the area.

School Principal Honoured
Ven. Acharya Tenzin Sherab, Principal of Sera Je Secondary School at Bylakuppe was honoured with the ‘Bharat Jyoti (Light of India) Award by the India International Friendship Society (IIFS) at a function held in Hyderabad on March 29, 2003. Shri Bhisma Narayan Singh, former Governor of Tamil Nadu and former Indian Union Cabinet Minister presented the award in recognition of his contribution in the development of education facilities for the Sere Je monastic community in Karnataka. Ven. Sherab is also a Member of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies.
School Principal Honoured

Cultural Teacher In-Service Training
Kalon Thupten Lungrig inaugurated the in-service training course for Cultural and Spiritual Teachers conducted by DOE from February 17-25, 2003 at the College of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah. The course focussed on techniques to impart spiritual and value education along with dialectical debates to improve intellect of students. Twenty-one teachers from residential schools and children’s villages in India and Nepal attended the training. During the training, the participants got an opportunity to interact with Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche. Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok, Secretary DOE addressed the teachers during the valedictory ceremony.
Cultural Teacher In-Service Training

SERVICE AWARD FOR SCHOOL STAFF 2002

The service award for the year 2002 conferred by the Department of Education, CTA, to school teachers and staff who have completed 25 years of service are as follows:
Mr. Nyima Gyaltsen & Mrs. D.B.Hasiha, CST Mussoorie; Mr. Tenzin Topgyal, C.S.T Herbertpur; Mrs. M.G. Shastri, Mr. P.P. Bharath, Mrs. M.D. Devakyi & Mr. H.S. Sathya Prakash, C.S.T. Bylakuppe; Mrs. Rinchen Dolma, CST Camp 6, Mundgod; Mr. Ngodup Dorjee, Mr. S.N. Dubey, V. Madhusoodanan, Mr. B.M. Aggarwal, Mr. Palden & Mr. Tsewang Topgyal & Ms. Konchok Lhadon, CST Mundgod; Mr. S. Nagarathnamma, Mr. T.P. Narayan, Mrs. Migmar Chungkyi & Mrs. Chuni Lhundup, C.S.T. CVP Bylakuppe; Mrs. Metok, Mr. Urgyen, Mr. Tenzin Dhargye, Mr. Karma Tsering, Mr. Tsering Dhundup, Mrs. Shashi Wadhara & Mr. Thupten Dorjee, THF Mussoorie; Mr. Penpa Topgyal, CST Manali; Ms. Phurbu Kyipa, TCV Bylakuppe; Ms.Kalsang Choedon, Ms. Tsering Dolma, Mr. Sonam Sithar, Ms. Zomkyi Wangmo, Ms. Tsephel Dolma, Mr. Tashi Dhundup,Mr. Tashi Tsering, Mr. Karma Silnyon, Mr. Tsering Dhundup, Mr. Guru Drakpo, Ms. Tsethar Dolma, Ms. Tsering Dolma, Ms. Tashi Norzom, Ms. Sangmo Choekyi, Mr. Konchok Gyurme, Ms. Jangchup Dolma, Ms. Sangye Khando, Ms. Dhondup Choekyi, Mr. Karma Sithar, Mr. Norgye Choephel, Upper TCV Dharamsala; Mr. Karma Tensung, TNMF School, Clementown.

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.

Result of Annual Tibetan Essay Competition, 2002
The Annual Tibetan Essay Competition, 2002 was held on August 27, 2002 for the students of Class VI to XII in schools in India and Nepal. The top three entries of each class category will be awarded cash prizes and certificates.

Page No. 3	SCHOOLS

Winners of Annual Tibetan Essay Competition, 2002

Category	Position	Name	School
Class XII	1	Tenzin Yangdol	CST Mundgod
	2	Lobsang Topgyal	THF Mussoorie
	3	Tenzin Norzom	CST Paonta Sahib
Class XI	1	Sonam Dorjee	THF Mussoorie
	2	Tenzin Dolkar	CST Mundgod
	3	Passang Dhondup	Namgyal High School
Class X	1	Lobsang Phuntsok	Sera je School
	2	Kalden Tsering	SOS Nepal
	3	Tsering Chodon	CST Paonta Sahib
Class IX	1	Sangye Tashi	SOS Suja
	2	Jampa Tashi	CST Dalhousie
	3	Lobsang Tenzin	THF Rajpur
Class VIII	1	Thinlay Sangmo	SOS Suja
	2	Tenzin Tashi	TDS Majnukatilla
	3	Tenzin Choegyal	THF Mussoorie
Class VII	1	Nyima Tso	SOS Suja
	2	Lobsang Tenzin	THF Mussoorie
	3	Sherap Wangmo	CST Chauntra
Class VI	1	Lobsang Chodak	Sera je School
	2	Rinzin Gyatso	SOS Suja
	3	Tenzin Dolma	CST Paonta Sahib

LANGUAGE LABORATORIES FOR SCHOOLS

With the assistance provided by SOIR-IM, Sweden, Language labs have been established in Tibetan schools at Chauntra, Paonta Sahib, Dekyiling and Clementown. With this, most of the secondary and senior secondary schools have language laboratories where students can improve their spoken language skills in an interactive fun-like environment. In addition, over-head projectors with screen and laser pointers have been provided. Internet facilities have also been provided to the schools at Chauntra, Bhuntar, Paonta Sahib and Dekyiling.

students at language laboratory

CST Mundgod

CST Mundgod was founded in 1969 by Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency, which had undertaken the responsibility of rehabilitating Tibetan Refugees in South India. It was taken over by CTSA in 1970. Under the farsighted and skilled management by CTSA, in conjunction with DOE Dharamsala, this small middle school at the time of take over has today

emerged as one of the biggest Senior Secondary schools in Tibetan Community offering the widest range of course streams. CST Mundgod has the unique distinction of running three streams of Commerce based higher Vocational studies, apart from Arts,Science and Commerce. From the last academic session, the subject options are further enriched by introducing Informatics Practice. The school has also residential facilities at the Senior Secondary level for the students coming from neighbouring feeder schools and the students coming from far-flung areas. The school functions with the network of two branch Primary Schools and four Pre-Primary Schools run at Camp No. 1,2,3,4 & 9.

Ideally located in the very heart of the Tibetan Settlement covering an area of 8.29 acres, in close proximity with the settlement office, hospitals, shopping complex and taxi stand. Lush green expanse of open paddy fields surround school campus. On both sides of school at close range lies the picturesque view of the sprawling Gaden and Drepung Monastic University Complexes, resplendent in it’s imposing traditional Tibetan architectural splendor. This gives a serene charm to the school environment. The school is 50 km from Hubli City and 7 km from Mungod town.

The infrastructure facilities are being upgraded every year and are as good as any reputed school in the community. However, the school building is old and dilapidated necessitating replacement for which the consent and sanction has been accorded. The construction work for the new classroom has already started. The daily conveyance of the students converging to school from the nine Camps is being arranged by the settlement office, which operates two buses.

At present the school has 994 students on the roll. The total strength of staff stands at 71 (16 non-teaching and 55 teaching staff) comprising of both Tibetan and Indian personnel. While imparting education, the school strives towards grooming the children into responsible and good human beings. The school Annual Examination Result at +2 level has been constantly good with pass percentage hovering between 95% to 100%. During the last academic session, the overall school pass percentage with exception to board exam is 84%. Scores of graduating students have competed successfully in the CET and DOE competitive exams and joined MBBS, BDS, BSc. B-Ed and B. Eng. Courses, to name a few. The Vocational streams run by this school had proved useful in meeting the accounting and clerical manpower requirement of the various community establishments. However, the changing job scenario in the Tibetan exile community has necessitated the need for revision of existing vocational programmes. Under the aegis of DOE Dharamsala, Tibetan language is being taught to the vocational students as an additional subject.

Page No. 4	DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFS

At the local level, the school is enjoying warm patronage of the Deputy Commissioner and the Settlement Representative who are the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Local Advisory Committee respectively. Parents’ representatives from the 9 Camps help the school administration in various activities, including preparing mid-day meals to the day scholars. Mr. Norbu Tsering is the current Rector and the officiating Principal of the school.

Central School for Tibetans, Mundgod

Scholarship News

Government of Styria and City of Graz, Austria has offered scholarships for 4 bonafide Tibetan refugees to undergo one-year duration study courses in various subjects at the University of Graz. The selection will be done after conducting written test in Tibetan and interview scheduled to be held on April 19, 2003 at Delhi.
Mr. Dawa Dorjee, Ex-CST Mussoorie has been selected to study 4-year undergraduate course in the University of San Fransisco, USA. He is scheduled to leave for the USA in September 2003 under the sponsorship by the university.
Mr. Tenzin Namgyal and Miss Tenzin Dickyi were selected for this year’s scholarship to study 2-year baccalaureate course at Pestalozzi Village, UK. They will leave for the UK in September 2003
Ms. Tenzin Yindrok, SOS TCV Bylakuppe was selected to undergo 2-year baccalaureate course at the Mahindra United World College, Pune. She joined the college in September 2002.
The selection test for the Fulbright Scholarship will be conducted from April 20-26, 2003. Seventy-two candidates applied for Degree and Non-Degree study in the USA starting in Fall 2004.
The annual scholarship announcement for the year 2003 for Mahindra United World College, M.B.B.S., Engineering, DOE scholarship, Berea scholarship and Pestalozzi scholarship have been sent to all Tibetan settlements and schools.

PUBLICATION NEWS

Besides the regular Phayul and Gangjong children’s magazines in Tibetan, DOE is bringing out following books which are in the press and will soon be made available to school children:

Two multi-colour comic books: Tsalumai Bhumo and Phamai Khachhem (both Phayul collection series)
Merchant of Venice (Tibetan translation)
Gesar story for children - Khrung-ling: The birth episode
Tibetan workbooks for class III and IV
Elementary Chinese Language Textbook (Part-I)

PROJECT NEWS

New Science Lab for Chauntra School: Science laboratory equipment for Physics, Chemistry and Biology were provided with the kind help from NCA, Norway. This has immensely helped in improving science education for the school. The school has been upgraded to a secondary level from the current academic session.
The construction of sanitary block project for Tibetan Nehru Memorial Foundation School, Clementown was successfully completed in January 2003. The project was funded by the Danish Children Fund (DCF). It has tremendously helped in providing separate toilet block for boys, girls and staff of the school.
CST Kalimpong has been facing an acute water storage problem. In March this year, a new concrete water tank for the school was built with financial assistance from SOIR-IM, Sweden which has greatly benefited the school children.