Mr. Pema Gyaltsen Receiving the award from the
President of India

Mrs. Youlo Dolma Receiving the award from the
President of India

Two teachers of the Central Tibetan Schools Administration (CTSA) were bestowed the "2007 National Award to Teachers", by Her Excellency Mrs Pratibha Patil, President of India, at a ceremony held on September 5 in New Delhi.

Mr Pema Gyaltsen, a trained graduate teacher of the Central School for Tibetans, Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and Mrs. Youlo Dolma, a primary teacher of CST Sonada in Darjeeling district of West Bengal were the recipients of this year's prestigious national award along with 320 teachers from across India. The award carried a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a silver medal, and a certificate of merit.

Instituted in 1958, the award ceremony is held every year on Teachers' Day in honor of late Dr S. Radhakrishnan, former President of India, and a great teacher and philosopher.  The Department of Education, CTA felicitates Mr. Pema Gyaltsen and Mrs. Youlo Dolma on receiving the prestigious National Award for Teachers.

Miss Sonam Dolkar Receiving the award

Mr. Thupten Rinzin reciving the award

The toppers amongst Tibetan students in the All India Senior Secondary Certificate Examination held in March 2008 were presented the Gadhen Phodrang Student Merit Awards and prize money of Rs.5000/- each. Kalon Tsering Phuntsok presented the awards at the annual Tibetan Democracy Day celebration held at Tsuglag-khang, Dharamsala on September 2. The recipients were Miss Ngawang Yangzom of THF Mussoorie for Science (81%), Mr. Thupten Rinzin of SOS TCV Bylakuppe for Commerce (86.8%) and Miss Sonam Dolkar of TCV Gopalpur for Humanities (86%).

Miss Ngawang Yangzom Receiving the Award

Tibetan schools in Nepal have once again fared well in Nepal School Education Board examinations declared on September 8. Namgyal Higher Secondary School, Kathmandu obtained a pass percentage of 87.76 % in the Class 12 board examination results. Out of 98 students who appeared, 86 passed and remaining 12 placed in compartment with no failures. The Class X results of the school stood at 96.96% pass. Of the 66 students, 64 passed and 2 placed in compartment. This year again, Songtsen Bhrikuti Boarding High School, Kathmandu achieved 100% pass in the Class X board examinations. Majority of the forty students who took the examination obtained first division.

The Department of Education of the Central Tibetan Administration convened the first high-level meeting to standardise Tibetan terminology for modern scientific and technical terms as part of the Tibetan Terminology Project undertaken by the Department of Education under directive from the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet).

The members of the high-level committee for this project met for eight days from 29 July to 6 August at Dharamshala. During meeting the committee standardised about two thousand terms. Ven. Lhakdor, Director of Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) chaired the meeting. Other members of the committee were Dr. Pema Dorjee, Tibetan Medical and Astro-Institute, Ven Lobsang Norbu Shastri, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Mr Lobsang Tendar, TCV Educational Development and Resource Centre and Acharya Karma Monlam, member-secretary, Department of Education.

Members of the High Level Committee for the Tibetan Terminology

A two-day meeting of Rectors from residential schools under CTSA viz. CST Dalhousie, CST Shimla, CST Mussoorie, CST Darjeeling & CST Kalimpong were held at Dharamsala from June 2-3. In addition to the rectors, the sponsorship coordinators at the schools also took part in the meeting. The meeting discussed on streamlining of accounts, hostel admissions, fee collection, dissemination of information on scholarships to students and cultural & spiritual education. Kalon Thupten Lungrig chaired the meeting, which was attended by the Education Secretary and other department officials.

Orientation Course for School Teachers at Ladakh

Department of Education conducted an orientation course on the Basic Education Policy for Tibetan in exile from July 7-13 at the Tibetan Childrens' Village, Choglamsar, Ladakh. The Education Minister Kalon Thupten Lungrig, inaugurated the course. All teachers of Tibetan Childens' Village Schools in Ladakh region, totaling 145, attended the first two days of the orientation programme during which the Ministerand Education Secretary Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok spoke in detail on the salient features of the Basic Education Policy followed by interaction with the teachers on the subject.

Group photo of Pre- Primary Teachers at TCV Ladakh

During the next five days, a capacity building workshop was conducted for the 29 Pre-primary teachers of TCV schools based in Ladakh. The orientation course focused on areas of holistic education, child development, inclusive education, yoga & pranayam, teaching learning methodologies in accordance with the Basic Education Policy guidelines. Resource persons for the workshop include Karma Chungdak, Director of Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS), Ngawang Sherab, Director of TCV Educational Development & Resource Centre, Nicola Tansley, Inclusive Education Consultant to DOE, and DOE Education Officer Tsering Samdup in addition to local resource persons. Education Kalon and Secretary also toured nearby schools and Tibetan camps and interacted with students and parents on the salient features of BEP.

School Inspections

- Education Officer Tsering Phuntsok and CTSA Education Officer A.S. Rawat visited Bylakuppe for annual school inspections at CST CVP Bylakuppe (July 8) and CST Bylakuppe and its branch schools (July 9-10). CST CVP Bylakuppe is a secondary school with 315 students 28 staff and CST Bylakuppe is a senior secondary school (humanities stream only) has 650 students 59 staff, which includes branch primary schools at Arlikumari, Kailashpura, Golledhalla and Chowkur. Mr. Tsering Phuntsok also inspected CST Chowkur on July 11 and interacted with students and parents. During the above inspections, teaching and learning in the schools were observed. The inspectors interacted with the students and teachers and offered suggestions for overall improvement of the schools.

Maths lab at CST Bylakyppe

- Education Officer Tsering Samdup along with CTSA Education Officer C. Dharuman visited CST Kalimpong (September 16-17) and CST Sonada (Sept. 18) for annual inspection.  Mr. Samdup also visited schools under Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society at Pokhriabong (Sept. 19-20), Gangtok (Sept. 22-24) and Shillong ((Sept. 27-29) for annual school inspection. 

- DOE deputed Mr. Tsering Dhondup, Principal of STS Bhuntar to join CTSA Education Officer Shri S.P. Rana for inspection at CST Shimla (Sept. 23). Shri Rana also visited CST Dholanji on Sept. 24 for inspection.

- Mr. Bhutuk Shastri, Director of Sherab Gatsel Lobling was deputed as a panel member of inspection team at CST Dalhousie (Oct. 3-4) alongwith CTSA Education Officer A.S. Rawat.

DOE Counselor, Ms. Donkar Wangmo visited the Central School for Tibetans, Mussoorie from August 18-30 while Mr. Jamyang Wangyal (South Zone Counselor) visited Central School for Tibetans Mundgod & CST Camp 6 from July 14-22 and Ms. Chokey Lhamo (East Zone Counselor) visited CST Ravangla, STS Gangtok & CST Kalimpong from June 27 to July 5 to provide guidance and counseling services to the students. The Counselors conducted group and individual counseling and also interacted with Teacher Counselors & teaching staff of the schools.

Counselor, Ms. Donkar Wangmo organized the first Career Exhibition at Central School for Tibetans, Mussoorie on September 28. The main objective of organizing this exhibition was to create awareness on different career choices and encourage students to research on careers options by themselves. This exhibition was funded by SOIR-IM, Sweden. About 20 Students from Class XI Science, Commerce & Humanities were assigned individually to research on a particular career and also gather information on a Professional Institution/College/University. The students prepared charts and displayed them in the school Resource Room. Students of Class VIII & above visited the exhibition and learned from the presentations made by the Class XI students. Career books, self- help books, directories of institutions, books on competitive entrance examination & college/university prospectus were displayed at the exhibition. The Principal, the staff, students above class VIII of CST and students of class XII from Tibetan Homes School visited the exhibition.  All in all, this exhibition was a good learning experience for the students and was well appreciated by the Principal, Rector and teachers. This would not have been possible without the support of Mr. Anand Kanderi (Teacher Counselor), Principal, Rector & staff of CST Mussoorie.

Career Exhibition at CST Mussoorie

School Building of Namgyal Middle Boarding School

School Hostel at Namgyal Middle Boarding School

Namgyal Middle Boarding School is located northwest part of Kathmandu, Nepal near the famous Buddhist shrine Swoyambhu Nath. It is under the administration of Snow Lion Foundation (SLF), Kathmandu, Nepal and follows all the rules and regulations stipulated by it. Established in 1981, it initially operated as Namgyal Hostel accommodating twenty children who attended a local school during the day and given Tibetan and English lessons within the hostel premises before and after school. Within two years, the number of children enrolled had increased to 195.   
 
In 1983, with guidance of Department of Education, Dharamsala and SLF, the hostel was converted to a primary school with hostel facilities. Mr. Rinchen Dharlo, Representative of H. H. the Dalai Lama in Nepal formally inaugurated the school. It was registered as Namgyal Primary School under the District Education Office of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.

The school enrollment continued to grow with each passing year. In 1986, with authorisation of the Regional Education Office the school was upgraded to middle school level with classes from LKG to class six and was renamed as Namgyal Middle Boarding School. The school however had become overcrowded and needed a larger campus. In 1992, with support from various organisations, sponsors, especially late Mr. C Baron, the school raised funds and purchased land measuring 16 rupani.  An additional 1 rupani 6 anna was purchased with funds provided by the Department of Education, Dharamsala. SOS Kinderdorf International provided the financial aid for construction of the entire school infrastructure at the new campus and for purchase of furniture.  The school shifted to the new campus, which is two kilometers distance from the old school. in 1999. The school now runs classes from KG to Eighth Grade with each grade having two sections with total enrollment of 528 in academic session 2008/09. Out of them, 322 boarders and 206 day-scholars. The school also finds sponsors for many poor Tibetan students. The school staff consists of 26 teachers and 24 general staff.

The school is affiliated to the Nepal School Education Board and as required under the current education policy of Nepal, it is fully registered under the Educational Private Trust. The school has well equipped classrooms, computer lab., science lab., library and football play ground. The co-curricular activities include seasonal sports competition, quiz, debate, poetical recitation and cultural competition show. The school publishes an annual magazine of children’s articles.

So far, a total of 1948 students graduated from the school and had performed excellent in various schools for higher studies by topping their classes with record marks. On several occasions, the students bring laurels in their outdoor competitions. Principal Ven. Lobsang Thabkhey took charge of school administration since 11 October 2007 and Tsering Dhondup (Gonpo) is the school headmaster.

Reconstruction of Multipurpose Hall, CST Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh:
The old and dilapidated Multi-purpose hall of CST Tezu which was being used as dinning hall as well as study center by the students has been completely reconstructed with the help from two donors at a total cost of Rs.461,653/- funded by Bizoweb (Rs. 151,545) an Italian donor agency and AET France (Rs.310,108). This project has benefited 150 students of CST Tezu School. The school authorities, parents and students have expressed their heart-felt gratitude to the donors and others involved actualizing this project.

Multipurpose hall at CST TEZU

A new Van for STS Bhuntar, Himachal Pradesh:
STS Bhuntar school being residential school with 130 students and 23 staff, a need of suitable vehicle for transporting goods and inmates especially during emergency was long felt since its inception.  We would like to express our thanks to AET, France for providing necessary fund for purchase of a van for the school.  The students and staff express their gratitude and appreciation for the financial assistance.

A New School Bus for BEP Model School, Dharamsala, HP:
As most of the students attending the BEP Model School are day scholars whose parents reside in the Dharamsala  area, need for a school bus was greatly felt to help transport the children from home to school and back safely.  A new school bus was purchased at the cost of Rs. 8,50,000/- within the overall budget sanctioned for Basic Education Policy Implementation Program funded by Danish government through CICED, a Copenhagen based organization,.   On behalf of Tibetan community, students and parents, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the Danish government and CICED for their assistance and support.

Construction of New Staff Quarters at BEP Model School, Dharamsala:
Two floors consisting of eight new staff quarters with common toilet and bathroom have been constructed on top of the existing staff quarter block.  This has greatly helped to ease acute shortage of living quarters for the teachers many of whom have been living in shared accommodation till now.  The total cost of project including furnishing was Rs. 16,35,114/-. We would like to deeply thank Music Eight, Japan for their generous financial assistance and kind support.

Staff Quaters at Mevon Tsuglak Peton School

1) The Department of Education (DoE) Scholarship Committee meeting was held on June 19 and awarded scholarships to 140 Tibetan students for pursuing undergraduate courses.

2) The selection test for the 2-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Course at United World Colleges (UWC) was conducted at Dharamsala from July 2-3. Some 56 Tibetan students from 17 different Tibetan schools have appeared for the test. The test comprises of Tibetan & English written test and followed by interview. The results as follows:

a) Ms. Tashi Wangmo, THF Mussoorie was selected for UWC Atlantic, UK. She left in August 2008.
b) Mr. Kunga Chodar, TCV Selakui was selected for UWC Mahindra, Pune, India. He joined college from 1st September 2008.

3) Mr. Derek Marshall, Chief Executive of Pestalozzi International Village Trust, East Sussex, UK conducted selection test for 2008 Pestalozzi Scholarships was held at Dharamsala from July 7-10 to undergo two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Course at Hastings College of Arts and Technology in UK. Thirty short listed students from various Tibetan schools across India took the tests, which included listening skills, science, mathematics and English written test and interview. Pestalozzi will select 4 students. The result is awaited.

Mr. Derek Marshall speaking to the candidates during selection test.

4) The Songtsen Scholarship Committee appointed by DoE has held meeting on July 10 and awarded scholarships to 10 eligible candidates for Songtsen Scholarship 2008.

5) The 2008 batch of 19 students left for United States under the Tibetan Scholarship Program (widely known as Fulbright Scholarship) for Degree and Non Degree courses on August 10, 2008.

6) Scholarship Announcement in August 2008:
a) Richardson Foundation-One scholarship for Undergraduate course at St. Andrew's University, UK (For details visit our official website www.sherig.org)