Introduction

SAMBHOTA TIBETAN SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATION (STSA) as been established by the Department of Education (CTA) on 16th June 1999 to look after a group of Tibetan schools in India and Bhutan. The head office of STSA is located at Gangchen Kyshong, Dharamsala, H.P. (Northern India).

The School Network

The location of the schools (map) coincides with that of Tibetan settlements in northern India. In some cases, due to the absence of hostel facilities, children have to cover several kilometers to reach the school. For example, some families living in Tuting area (Far Eastern India) are facing a difficult situation, as they have no school to send their children to. With houses scattered within a radius of more than seven kilometers, these people live a very miserable life and have no source of income to send their children to a proper school. Central School for Tibetans, Chauntra (H.P) has been purposely converted to a boarding school to accomodate these children. Most of them remain in the hostel throughout the year as their parents are too poor to bear the travelling expenses to take them home during the vacation. For these young Tibetans, school is their HOME, staff are their parents and they are being taken care of all around the year.

Similarly, in the case of Gangtok area parents, who live in the high Himalayas and have no school to send their children to near their settlements, we have constructed a school at Gangtok to extend education facilities to Sikkim and Nepal border Tibetan communities.

Sambhota Tibetan Schools in Bhutan

With the establishment of the Tibetan refugee settlements in Bhutan, the Exile Tibetan Government has given top priority for opening of educational facilities in these areas. At present we have four schools in four different settlements. Except Jigmenang, all the others are single teacher schools,deprived of infrastructure and other basic facilities. Their classrooms are very unhygienic; we can not even provide mid-day meal to these children during the school hours. We are trying our best to improve the situation but due to some reasons above our reach we are still facing problems with the overall development of these schools.

Location of Schools and Source of Children

The location of the schools coincides with the location of Tibetan settlements in northern India. In some cases there were no hostel facilities and children would have to cover several kilometers to reach the school.

For example, parents from Tuting areas (Far Eastern India) had no school to send their children to, and to going from one house to another is often 7 kilometers or more. They live a very miserable life and have no income to send their child to a proper school. Central School for Tibetans, Chauntra (H.P) now admits these children. As they have no proper attire, food or money to go elsewhere during the two months winter vacation as most of the children do, the school takes care for them for their all around development through out the year.

Similarly, in the case of Gangtok area parents, who live in the Himalayas and have no school to send their children to near their settlements, we have constructed a school at Gangtok to extend education facilities to Sikkim and Nepal border Tibetan communities.

You may click on red circles given on School Location Map below for the respective school and its detials.

   
31 - Gangkyi 32 - Bir 34 - Puruwala 37 - Chauntra 38 - Paonta Sahib 39 - Manali 42 - Dekyiling 44 - Shillong 45 - Pokhriabong 46 - Sikkim 57 - Bhuntar 72 - Jigmenang 73 - Lhongtso 74 - Karche 75 - Khasakha

This school came up on 1st of June 1969 with the back up of the TIRS with 50 students at the start; today it entertains 489 students. In 1973, CTSA appointed Darshan Singh as the Headmaster of the school. In 1977, they approched the DoE which agreed in the same year to help the institution, renamed as the CST Poanta Sahib. Since then much progress took place, with the school being upgraded three times.

In 1988, the Department of Education has appointed Mr. Norbu Tsering as the first Headmaster of the school. Afterwards, in 1992, it was upgraded to Xth grade with Mr. Tsering Phuntsok as the first principal of the school and finally in 1998 it was upgraded to XIIth class, in which only the Humanities stream is entertained. Today it is the biggest school of STSA. Mrs. Christa Craft from Germany laid the foundation of the school; she was followed by Hiro Sukeyasu, Japan, whose kind blessing turned this school into one of the biggest schools of the Department of Education.

At present, there are 34 teaching staff and 26 non-teaching staff against 541 students. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 87.58%, with Mr. Migmar Tsering as the current Principal.

Situated at approximately 10 Kms. from the Dehra Dun(Uttranchal), this middle school was inaugurated on 1st June 1982 with the aim to provide education for the children of Tibetans refugees shifted from Bhutan. Mr. Ngodup Gyaltsen took over the charge of the school. A few months later, with the kind assistance of IGSSS, the school was upgraded to Vth Class. On November 20, 1983 the formal inauguration of the school was made by the U.P Home Minister in the presence of various dignitaries of CTA Dharamsala.

On 8th October, 1984 DoE Secretary, Rabten la visited the school and decided its taking over by the Department of Education, CTA, Dharamsala. At present, there are 19 teaching staff and 4 non-teaching staff against 316 students as day scholars, with classes from K.G. to VIII. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 92.92%. Mrs. Tsering Palmo is serving as the Headmistress of the said school.

It was established in 1980's by Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) but it was only in 1991 that this school was taken under the DoE. There are 16 teaching staff and 9 non-teaching staff against 205 students. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 92.92 %. At present Mr. Kalsang Dawa is the Officiating Headmistress of this school.

Located in Mandi District (H.P), it started in 1979 as a day school administered by TIRS and later supported by CTSA (Delhi). They have classes from K.G. to III. The various sponsors poured financial aid to establish classrooms, furnitures, and staff quarters. After the completion of the ten classrooms, this school was brought under the DoE(CTA) in 1980 and named as the CST Chauntra. This school was inaugurated by H.H. The Dalai Lama on February17, 1981. Initially it had grades up to Vth class but it was upgraded to VIIIth grade. In 1997 this school was attached with boarding facilities to accomodate children from Tuting areas. So far we have received four batches of children from there. This year we have started Class IX. The administration is under the process of making this school a pure science one, up to 10+2 level.

The present strength of the students is 403 against 18 teaching staff and 16 non-teaching staff. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 90.93 %. Mr. Dhondup Dorjee is the present school Headmaster.

This school was recently inaugurated on 16th of July 2002. The Department of Education bought this school to provide boarding facility to the children of Tibetan community scattered in and around Manali and Kullu. It had classes from VIth to VIIIth level in earlier years, now it already covers IXth class and by next year it will also add Xth class (the Senior Secondary level). The school was started by shifting students of above class V from CST Manali. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 87.27 %. Mr. Tsering Dhundup is the headmaster of this school. There are 8 teaching staff and 6 non-teaching staff. At presently there are 97 students studying in the said school.

In 1969 a pre-primary school was established by the TIRS with the strength of 7 students at that initial stage. The importance of education was felt gradually by Tibetans and on 1st of March , 1972 the student strength has sored to 55, with the aid received from CTSA, Delhi. On 9th of June, 1976 the Department of Education(CTA) appointed a Tibetan language teacher, Penpa, to assist the students. In 1981, TIRS withdrew their support because of the financial crisis and the school was subsequently brought under the Department of Education.

Currently it has pre-primary to class IV. There are 118 students against 10 teaching staff and 1 non-teaching staff. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 93.16%. The present Headmaster of the school is Mr. Sonam Tsering.

The importance of education was felt by Tibetans after the flight from Tibet. They sought refuge in Manali areas and most of the people got engaged in road construction in order to survive and to feed the growing children. With great difficulties they established a pre-primary school in 1962. After a few years, the improvement of this school took place and its standard was raised from pre-primary to Class III. In 1978, under the request proposed by local Tibetans, the overall administration was undertaken by the Department of Education. Since then many changes were made in the school and the standard was raised to VIIIth class. In 1995, people witnessed heavy floods, which threathened the school as it is situated by the side of the river. The Department of Education gathered funds from different sponsors for the construction of the school in the picture. It provides the necessary facilities for day schooling from pre-primary to class VIII. Today, the new school looks very appealing and the students are safe and happy to learn in it. The Tibetans in this area are engaged with seasonal business: in summer they stay in Manali and in winter they go in the southern Indian plains to carry out their business, which is the only income source for their survival. They requested DoE to build hostels for their children as they are always on the move. As a consequence, in July 2002 the new school was inaugurated at Bhuntar to provide boarding facility for their children. After completing their class V the students are accomodated in Bhuntar school on the basis of their achievement at the entrance test and this school was degraded to Vth grade.

At present, there are 12 teaching staff and 3 non-teaching staff with 104 students (day-scholars). The overall result of the school in 2008 was 100%. Mrs. Chimi Dolma is serving as the Headmistress.

This school is located at the very heart of the CTA Gangchen Kyishong (Dharamsala). In 1975, a primary school was established by the Director of Tibetan Children Village school (Jetsun Pema La) and the seats were reserved for the official staff students only. At the beginning there were 25 students along with the 7 teaching staff and an Ayah to nurse the infant childs. But in 1978 DoE took in charge the school and named it "Gangkyi Day School", since then, its doors have been opened for all the children. DoE deputed Mr. Thupten Dodhen and Mr. Keldon as Tibetan and English language teachers respectively. In 1983-1984, it had classes from K.G to IVth; later it was downgraded to IInd grade. At present, there are 149 students with 9 teaching staff and 1 non-teaching staff. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 100%. The present Headmistress of the school is Mrs. Dorjee Dolma.

At the only school situated in Darjeeling the bliss of weather suits the students and teachers alike. This school was first established by the initiative of Representatives on 15th of April 1981 with the strength of 50 students and 2 teachers. Three years later, a lady teacher was appointed and thus there were 3 teachers to impart the knowledge to the students. In 1985, the pay scale of the teachers was Rs. 250/- per month. In 1987, the school was handed over to the DoE which appointed a Headmaster to look after it. Thus more teachers were sent and the strength of students immediately increased. In 1990-1991, DoE(CTA) made a thorough inspection and found out insufficient to justify the cost of maintaining the higher classes and downgraded it from VIIIth to Vth.

At present, there are 9 teaching staff and 12 non-teaching staff with the strength of 117 students. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 92.12 %. Mr. Nyima Tsering is serving as the Headmaster of the school.

The initial primary school was established on 2th of June, 1969 with the strength of 10 students. This was made possible only with Munoth's help so this school was named the "Sakya-Munoth School". In 1974, the Department of Education agreed to provide the salary of 2 teachers and some other facilities. In 1978, it had classes from pre-primary to VIIIth but with only 3 teachers it had to be downgraded to Vth Class. In 1981, DoE renamed it as the CST Puruwala when it merged under the overall management of the DoE(CTA). Today the school is not administered by CTSA but it receives grants as aid from the administration.

At present there are 9 teaching staff , 3 non-teaching staff and 87 students as day-scholars. The overall result of the school in 2008 was 94.02%.The present Headmaster of the school is Mr. Yeshi Tenzin.

This school was founded by the local committee consisting of the headmaster, the PTA and other local representatives in 1981. Since the funds were very limited, it was handed over to the DoE in 1981. At that time, the DoE took the land on lease for 99 years and developed a primary school to provide education for the children of the scattered Tibetan community. Besides offering its services to the children of Shillong, it also provides educational facilities for children coming from Dimapur, Itanagar and Kohima,with classes from LKG to Vth. The girl hostel received funds, and DoE was finally able to construct a hostel with a capacity of 100 boarders.

At present, there are 9 teaching staff and 6 non-teaching staff against 106 students (78 boarders and 14 day-scholars), the classes being from K.G to Vth grade. The overall result of the 2008 was 92.55%. Mr. Namgyal Yarphel is the present Headmaster of the school.

Jigmenang Rabtanling Tibetan settlement was established in 1967. In 1968 a small school was opened up to cater the education of this community's children. From the initial population, around 250 refugees were shifted to Dekyiling, in India. At present this settlement has a population of 482 people and the basic education for their children is provided in this school. It has classes from Pre-primary to class III,with a total of 8 children and two teaching staff. After completing their basic education from this school, the children are admitted in Tibetan boarding schools situated in Northen India.

Contact Information:

Sambhota Tibetan Schools Administration,
Session Road
Dharamsala, District Kangra
H.P. India/ Zip 176215

Website: www.sambhota.org
Phone:+91-1892-228877
Fax: +91-01892-223481
Website E-mail: stsa1999@yahoo.co.in