Dorji Gyaltsen receiving award from
Kalon Tripa

Sangay Chodon receiving award from
Kalon Tripa

The toppers amongst Tibetan students in the All India Senior Secondary Certificate Examination held in March 2009 were presented the Gadhen Phodrang Student Merit Awards and prize money of Rs.5000/- each. Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche presented the awards at the annual Tibetan Democracy Day celebration held at Tsuglag-khang, Dharamsala on September 2. The award recipients were Dorji Gyaltsen of TCV Upper Dharamsala for Science (88%), Kalsang Dickyi (in absentia) of TCV Bylakuppe for Commerce (92.8%); and Sangay Chodon of CST Kalimpong for Humanities (87.2%).

Two teachers of the Central Tibetan Schools Administration (CTSA) have been nominated for the National Award to Teachers-2008. This year, the Vice-President of India presented the awards on Teachers' Day in New Delhi.
Mrs. Rinchen Dolma, Primary Teacher of the Central School for Tibetans (CST), Camp 6 Mundgod and Mr. H.S. Sathya Prakash, Trained Graduate Teacher of CST Bylakuppe (both schools located in Karnataka State), received this year's prestigious national award along with 302 teachers from across India. The award carries with it a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs.25,000 and a silver medal.
The National Award to Teachers, instituted in 1958, is celebrated in India as Teachers' Day (5th September) in honour of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, former president of India, a philosopher and a great teacher. CTSA teachers were included among other recipients of the award from 2004. Since then two teachers of the CTSA receive the award every year.

Mr. H S Sathya Prakash(top) & Mrs. Rinchen Dolma (bottom)
receiving the award from the Vice-president of India

The first meeting of the newly constituted Drafting Committee for Middle School Curriculum (in line with Basic Education Policy for Tibetans in Exile) was held at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala on September 28-30. Kalon Thupten Lungrig, in his inaugural speech welcomed the members and advised on the need to give due importance to Tibetan traditional knowledge while preparing the draft curriculum framework. Committee comprise of members representing schools under Tibetan Children's Village, Tibetan Homes Foundation, Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society, Central Tibetan Schools Administration and concerned officials of the Department of Education. Education Secretary Karma G Yuthok graced the occasion on the closing day.

Committee Members with Education Secretary
(3rd from left)

The Department of Education conducted a nine-day workshop July 14-22 on Science and Mathematics teaching methodologies for primary school teachers at the College of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, near Dharamsala. Twenty-two primary teachers from schools under CTSA and STSS attended the training inaugurated by Education Secretary Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok.
Dr. Shailender Gupta, Incharge of training and development at Calorx Teacher's University at Ahmedabad; Tashi Dhondup, Head of Traditional Education Section, DOE and Mrs. Palmo, TCV Suja schoolteacher introduced various techniques for teaching Mathematics. Duke Tsering, principal, TCV School at Selakui and Tenzin Dorjee, senior science teacher of CST Poanta conducted sessions on effective science teaching. Ms. Nicola Tansley, an expert on special education sensitised the participants on ways to teach science and math to children with special needs. Sessions on morality& ethics, Yoga and Tibetan font Monlam were also conducted for the participants. Education Kalon Thupten Lungrig presented certificates to the teachers on the final day of the training on July 22.

Education Kalon with Primary Teachers
(sitting 2nd row centre)

Four Tibetan school teachers attended the 5-day International Writing Workshop held at the British International School, New Delhi from July 29-August 2. The course focused on "raising writing achievement in K-12 Schools". Choephel from Upper TCV School Dharamsala, Tenzin Choezom from THF School Mussoorie, Tsering Youdon from STS Bhuntar and Kalsang Wangmo from Mevon Tsuglak Peton School, Dharamsala participated in the workshop.  Elly Tobin, Director of College for International Citizenship/Principal of Joseph Chamberlain College, Birmingham UK organiser of the workshop invited the teachers.   She visited Dharamsala on August 7 and discussed with Education Secretary on the future scope of assistance to Tibetan educators.

CTSA Central Level Tibetan Cultural Meet 2009

Central Tibetan Schools Administration organised central level Tibetan Cultural Meet at CST Shimla from Sept. 24-25. Schools were categorised into three Zones (North, South & East). The winners of the Zonal Meets participated in the Central Level Meet. The Junior and Senior Championships were won by the South Zone team. Education Officers from CTSA & DOE observed the final day programme and gave away the certificates & prizes.

School Inspections

Education Officer Addressing the students during Morning Assembly at CST Bylakuppe	Maths Park at CST Gurupura
Education Officer Tsering Samdup visited STS Bhuntar (July 28-29) for the annual inspection of the school. He also visited Manali (July 30-31) where on the request of the parents gave a talk on the salient features of the Basic Education Policy for Tibetans in Exile and responded to their queries. He also paid a visit to CST Manali and met the school staff. Education Officer Tsering Phuntsok along with CTSA Education Officer C. Dharuman inspected CST Dalhousie on July 20-22. They also visited CST Dholanji (Sept. 26) for annual inspection. The annual inspection of CST Chandragiri (Aug 4) and its two branch schools were carried out with CTSA Education Officer S. P. Rana. Education Officer Tsering Samdup along with CTSA Education Officer A.S. Rawat visited Mundgod for annual inspection at CST Mundgod (Aug 10-11) and CST Camp 6, Mundgod (Aug 12). They also inspected Drepung Loseling School, a grant in aid school. Mr. Samdup along with Mr. C Dharuman inspected CST Herbertpur on Aug. 24. The annual inspection of CST Gurupura and CST Kollegal was conducted on Aug 22 and Aug 24 respectively. Education Officer Tsering Phuntsok and CTSA Education Officer A.S. Rawat led the inspection of these two schools. During the inspection of the above schools, the concerned school heads, settlement officers and members of the parent-teacher association provided full cooperation to the inspection team.	School March Past during inspection at CST Kollegal
	Students of Class VI at CVP Bylakuppe

Career Exhibition Held at CST Mundgod

Dholanji students presenting Yoga

School View of CST Dholanji

A single teacher primary school at Dholanji, near Solan town in the northern Indian State of Himachal Pradesh was started in 1967 with 20 students. In the beginning the classes were conducted under a thatched muddy house. Later on, three rooms were constructed for the school. In the year 1975, this school was renamed as Central School for Tibetans, Dholanji and the management was undertaken by the Central Tibetan Schools Administration (CTSA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India with the aim to impart education to the Tibetan children residing at the Tibetan refugee settlement at Dholanji. It began as a primary school with 54 students and two teachers. It was upgraded to middle school in 1989 and thereafter to secondary level in 2003. The present three-storied main school building was built by the Bonpo Tibetan Settlement and handed over to the CTSA on lease basis. The school is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi. The school has an examination committee to conduct the examination fairly and smoothly. Promotions are made from classes I to IX on the basis of class assessment, 3 unit tests, half-yearly and annual examinations as per the CTSA rules. The school has performed quite well in the past board examinations. It achieved 100% results in the year 2007 & 2008. In the year 2009, the result was 94%. The school has a strength of 518 students, 28 teaching staff and 05 non teaching staff. The school is progressing and developing very fast in the field of education. The classrooms are well equipped with teaching aids to facilitate better learning. The students fully participate in various co-curricular activities including inter house competitions in cultural dance, poem recitation, quiz, debate, creative writing, painting and games and sports. Mr. S.P. Sharma is the principal of the school who fully dedicated his service for the education of Tibetan children.  He was the recipient of the prestigious National Award for Teachers 2004 presented by the President of India.

Publication News

Rev. Shinkoh Ohyama of ARTIC, Japan and Mr. Noriyuki Kizaki of Shimizu Fund, Japan along with other officials visited Dharamsala in early September. They had series of discussion with DOE officials. Besides support for schools and students from ARTIC & Shimizu Fund, ARTIC has agreed to finance the publication of four books in 2009 to be published and distributed to all Tibetan schools and institutions.  Works on these books are in progress and will go to press in a few months' time.

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Project News

1. Tibet Charity, India Project: Tibet Charity, India has provided financial assistance to Sambhota Tibetan School at Shillong for the purchase of PA system, story books, teaching aids, photocopy machine, fax machine and a television set for the hostel. Fund was also provided for replacement of roof tin sheets, repairs and renovation of school office and staff quarter.

2. CST Miao Libray Project: With the kind support from TRANS Himalayan Aid Society, Canada, school library project for CST Miao was completed. Each student of the school from Class III to VIII was given an English-Tibetan Dictionary.

3. Visit of ARTIC members, Japan: Mr. Kawahara Koyu, Mr. Kuga Seiji and Mr. Kizaki visited India/Dharamsala on Sept 9-11 along with other members of ARTIC. They visited CST Chauntra to discuss the ongoing project and future plans for the school.

4. Theo Hues, Germany: Mr. Theo Hues from Germany has kindly donated funds for spiritual education program at Transit School and for school library at STS Bhuntar. Additional funds were also provided for Tibetan Dictionary, teaching aids, furniture & fixtures and teacher training. The Department of Education expresses heartfelt thanks to all the above donors for their assistance and look forward to receive continuous support in future.

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Scholarship News

1) DOE conducted selection test for two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Course at United World College (UWC) Mahindra in Pune, India. Twenty-seven Class X fresh graduate students from 10 different Tibetan schools appeared for the test held on June 30 & July 1. Tenzin Gyalchoe from TCV Selakui was selected and will join the college in September 2009.

2) Ms. Margaret Alexander, Care Coordinator, Pestalozzi International Village Trust, East Sussex, UK conducted selection test for Pestalozzi Scholarship 2009 at Dharamsala from August 4-6 to undergo two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Course at Hastings College of Arts and Technology in UK. Twenty-eight shortlisted students from various Tibetan schools across India sat for the tests comprising Interview, Listening Skill, Science, Mathematics and English written test. They will select 3 aspirants among the Tibetan students. The result is awaited.

3) The 2009 batch of 16 students left for the United States on August 10 under the Tibetan Scholarship Program (widely known as Fulbright Scholarship) for Degree and Non Degree programs.

4) Scholarship Announcements: Wasatch Scholarship 2010: Two top male & female students from class VIII will be selected to pursue 4 years of high school at Wasatch Academy, Utah, US. The selection test comprising of written tests in English & Tibetan followed by an interview will be conducted on March 23-24, 2010. (For more information visit official website www.sherig.org) 5) Tashi Dolma, Additional Secretary and Chime Tseyang, Deputy Secretary visited Tibetan schools and settlements at Mundgod and Bylakuppe in South India from September 16-30 and delivered talks on DoE scholarship procedures, rules & regulations; domestic & overseas scholarships; selection process and so forth. During the talk, they interacted with the students and their families to find out their concerns.  They also met Tibetan college students at Bangalore and interacted with them.

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The Department of Education, CTA wishes all the sponsors and wellwishers a Happy New Year 2010 and Merry Christmas.