DEPARTMENTAL BRIEFS Peton School Celebrates Anniversary Kalon Address Newly Trained Teachers Tibetan Student excel in State Level Competition School Inspections Career Talks in Schools Guidance & Counseling in South Schools Career Exhibition at CST Mundgod Cultural Awareness Programme in Schools Teacher Counselors' Workshop Held New Pre-Primary Branch at Tsering Dhonden Settlement 25-Year Service Award SCHOOL FEATURE Mevon Tsuglag Peton School, Dharamsala PUBLICATION NEWS Publication News PROJECT NEWS Project News SCHOLARSHIP NEWS Talks on Scholarship Opportunities in Higher Studies

THE NEWS

Peton School Celebrates Anniversary The first foundation anniversary of Mevon Tsuglag Peton School at Lower Dharamsala was celebrated on October 9. Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche was chief guest on the occasion. Other dignitaries include Education Kalon, Secretary, concerned officials of the Department of Education (DOE), Director of Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS) and parents. After inaugurating an exhibition on Tibetan calligraphy and paintings by the students, Kalon Tripa addressed the gathering on the implementation of the Basic Education Policy and stressed on the significance of parents' role in shaping the child's all-round development. The students presented a colourful cultural programme and yoga demonstration. At the end Kalon Tripa, Kalon and Secretary gave away sweets to all the children. Kalon Address Newly Trained Teachers Education Kalon Mr. Thupten Lungrig was the chief guest at a convocation ceremony held at the TCV Teacher Training Center, Dharamsala on December 20. In his address to the 9th batch of 15 primary teacher trainees, who have successfully completed two-year Primary Teacher Training Course, Kalon Lungrig congratulated the trainees and applauded them for choosing the teaching profession and stressed on the essential qualities required of a teacher, particularly the need to educate children with love, care and compassion. He later observed an exhibition of projects and teaching materials prepared by the trainees during the course. TCV President, Education Director, EDRC Director, DOE Education Officer and Village Directors and Principals of nearby TCV schools were also present at the occasion. Tibetan Student excel in State Level Competition Tenzin Dawa, a student of Class IV at Central School for Tibetans won the first prize in the Himachal Pradesh State-Level Painting Competition held in the state capital Shimla for his painting titled 'When the Sun is on switch off the light'. The competition is organised by the Satluj Jal Nigham Ltd. (A joint venture of Govt. of India & Govt. of H.P.) on the occasion of Children's Day on November 14. In all 74 schools took part in the competition. Dawa was presented with a cash prize of Rs.10,000 and a certificate by the state power minister Mrs. Vidya Stokes. School Inspections Education Officer Mr. Tsering Phuntsok along with CTSA Education Officer Mr. A.S. Rawat and Technical Officer A.K.Aggarwal conducted annual inspection of CST Mundgod, CST Camp 6, primary and pre-primary branch schools at Mundgod from October 31 to November 3. They inspected the school educational facilities, hostels and observed classroom teaching and learning, subject exhibitions, cultural activities and interacted with students and teachers providing suggestions for further improvement of the schools. CST Mundgod is the largest school under the Central Tibetan Schools Administration with an enrolment of 1018 children and staff strength of 70. It imparts education in all four streams viz; Humanities, Science, Commerce & Vocational. CST Camp 6 is a middle school with 222 students and 21 staff. The inspection team also visited Drepung Loseling School (a grant in aid school of CTSA) and observed the morning assembly and classes in session. The annual inspections of CST Chauntra and CST Bir were carried out by Education Officer Tsering Samdup from November 9-11. Besides observing classroom teaching, cultural activities, he inspected the educational facilities: science lab, language lab, school library and computer lab. He shared his observations during the staff meeting and offered suggestions on bringing all round improvement in the schools. He also interacted with the school PTA members. Career Talks in Schools Counselor Ms. Donkar Wangmo visited TCV School, Dharamsala Cantt. on September 30 and counseled students of Class XII (Science) on the reserve seats for medicine & engineering courses and its eligibility criteria; careers in science; admission procedure to various colleges and universities in India; rules and regulations concerning Fulbright & other overseas scholarships; and provided guidance on how to avail the scholarships offered by Berea College, USA that is no longer processed through education department. On November 8 she visited TCV Gopalpur and spoke to the Class XII Arts students on various career options for Arts students after school. She counseled the students on how to cope with the transition and on the importance of time management. The above talks were followed by question - answer session. Guidance & Counseling in South Schools The South Zone Counselor Mr. Jamyang Wangyal visited Tibetan schools in the south at CST Chandragiri, CST Bylakuppe, TCV Bylakuppe, CST Kollegal and CST Mundgod from October 9-November 18. During the visit, he met with the teacher counselors and discussed the programmes implemented under the Minimum Level of Guidance and Counseling in the school; counseled senior school students on self-understanding, goal setting, career awareness and options after Class XII, study skills, peer pressure, examinations and college admission tips. He informed the students on DOE Scholarships in India and abroad. Besides, he held separate group discussions with students of other classes and conducted separate sessions for boys and girls. Guidance and counseling talks are conducted in the schools to assist students in choosing careers and dissemination of information on scholarships available. Career Exhibition at CST Mundgod Mr. Dhondup Dorjee, Representative of Doeguling Tibetan Settlement inaugurated a career exhibition organised by the South Zone Guidance & Counseling Cell at CST Mundgod on 18th November 2006. The school principal, rector, teachers and senior students attended the exhibition. The students of class XII prepared charts, monographs, bulletins and career albums that were displayed along with the books on careers from the Cell. It was a very enriching and positive learning experience for them. The staff and students of the school found the exhibition most informative. Cultural Awareness Programme in Schools As part of the cultural awareness programme conducted in the schools, talks were arranged at CST Gothangaon in Maharastra State, CST Mainpat in Chhatisgarh State and CST Chandragiri in Orissa State from October 13-21. Two eminent speakers Penpa Tsering and Lobsang of Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet visited the schools and gave talks to promote cultural & social awareness among students, staff and the local Tibetan community. They shared their experiences in Tibet and stressed on the importance of preserving Tibet's rich cultural traditions and language, which was followed by question-answer session. Books and Photo exhibition on Tibetan culture was also held. Teacher Counselors' Workshop Held A workshop for teacher-counselors was held at the College of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, Dharamsala from October 24-28. Fourteen counselors from 13 Tibetan schools of Nepal and north-eastern India attended the workshop. The topics covered during the workshop include counseling skills and techniques; personality development; motivation; communication skills; life skills; aptitude testing; career/vocational guidance & counseling; admission procedure across the country; substance abuse; helping children with special needs; conflicts and strategies to resolve conflicts in schools; minimum guidance & counseling; DOE scholarships and case studies discussion. The resource persons include Dr. Sanjib Kumar Acharya of Pratham Edusys Pvt. Ltd.; Ms. Nicola Tansley, Educational Psychologist & Consultant on Special Needs (UK); Mr. Karma Lekshey of Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution; Ms. Sonam Dickey, Clinical Counselor of Deptt. of Health, CTA. New Pre-Primary Branch at Tsering Dhonden Settlement Department of Education has approved the opening of a new pre-primary branch school at Tsering Dhonden Tibetan settlement near Dehradun. This branch school will start functioning effective from 2007 academic session under the administration of Sambhota Tibetan School at Dekyiling. The settlement will provide the required basic infra-structure and running expenditure will be provided by DOE through Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society. On request by the settlers, DOE deputed a task force comprising Dekyiling Representative Damdul Jingarpon, Education Officer Tsering Samdup, STSS Accountant Sonam Tsering and Headmistress Tsering Palmo in the month of September to study the viability of opening a pre-primary branch at the settlement. 25-Year Service Award ANNUAL SERVICE AWARD FOR SCHOOL STAFF The Department of Education, CTA conferred this year's Annual Service Awards to 52 teaching and non-teaching staff who have completed 25 years of service in the Tibetan schools. Names of the recipients are:- CST Sonada: N.K.Singh; CST Gurupura: P.K.Mookherjee, A.Honnurappa; TCV Bylakuppe: Choenyi Sangmo, Phurbu Kyipa, Tsering Choejor, Urgyen Sangmo; TCV Chauntra: Lobsang Dolma; TCV Gopalpur: Tenzin Lhamo; TCV Head Office: Lodoe, Phuntsok Tashi; TCV Ladakh: Dorjee Nishar, Gyaltsen Choenyi, Pema Tsetan, Tsering Palden, Tsering Wangyal; TCV Lower Dharamsala: Sonam Choezom; TCV Handicraft, Patlikuhl: Norgye Choephel; TCV Dharamsala Cantt.: Bhutuk, Dolma Yangzom, Lhamo Kyipa, Nyima Kyi, Tsewang Topgyal; CST Kollegal: Kanta Kishan Rohata; THF Mussoorie: Ngodup Norbu, Lhawang Ngodup, Kumud Nayar, Dorjee Taktsak, Bhuchung, Lobsang Chomphel, Tsering Dolma, Jampa Dolma, Dhondup Dolma; SOS Hermann Gmeiner School, Pokhra: Namgyal Dolma; CST CVP Bylakuppe: Lobsang Dorjee, Nyima Gelek; CST Mainpat: Tashi Dolma, P.K. Dubey; CST Dalhousie: Choesang Phunrab; CST Mussoorie: G.B. Singh, Ngawang Dolkar, Lhamo Yangchen; CST Darjeeling: Rupa Lepcha, Vidya Nand Singh; CST Chandragiri: R.C.Pradhan; CST Shimla: Tsering Dolma, Tashi Lhazom; CST Bylakuppe: Alchung, Kalsang Rabgye, Sahab Singh; CST Herbertpur: N.K. Sharma, Jasbir Singh. The award recipients were presented with a service certificate and a traditional Thangka as a gesture of appreciation on behalf of all Tibetan students. SCHOOL FEATURE Mevon Tsuglag Peton School, Dharamsala One of the immediate action plans after adoption of the new Basic Education Policy is the establishment of a model school as envisioned by the new policy. For starting the school, the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet) provided three buildings and premises of the defunct handicraft training and production unit under the Finance Department, located near Gamroo Village opposite Lower Tibetan Children Village in Dharamsala town. The Department of Education set up a four-member team preparatory committee to execute the preliminary work of renovating and furnishing the whole complex. Major renovation work was done to classrooms, dining hall, kitchen, hostels, staff quarters, toilet & bathrooms, storerooms, children's park and assembly ground. The school was named Mevon Tsuglag Peton School by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and was inaugurated by Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche on 10th October 2005. The first batch of 85 children were admitted into Montessori to Grade II classes with boarding facility for out-station children attending class I and II. The school is managed by the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society. Currently, there are 117 students enrolled with 11 faculty and 13 non-faculty members and classes from Montessori Stage I to Grade III. The school has a hostel capacity for 100 boarders, though at present there are 84 boarders belonging to different Tibetan settlements and scattered communities. In the next academic session the school will have added Grade IV. The school facilities consist of 6 classrooms, a dining hall, 4 hostels (boys and girls), a common kitchen, 8 staff quarters, storerooms, common toilets and bathrooms. The school follows a curriculum based on the guidelines delineated in the Basic Education Policy. The experience gained from the implementation of programmes under the basic education policy in the school would be used as a model for replication in other Tibetan schools in the future. The school has been established with funds donated by SOIR IM Sweden, NCA Norway, KIKU Tibet Support Group, Japan, Tibet Freunde, Switzerland, AET France, Tibet Fund, USA and Tibet House Trust, UK. Publication News Three books titled: bodkyi doegar dang gyutsel; dubchen thangthong gyalpo; and midre babdil tangwa, financed by ARTIC, Japan have gone to press and will soon be distributed to all Tibetan schools in India, Nepal and Bhutan. 3000 copies of each title will be printed. Project News A high-level delegation from SOIR IM, Sweden consisting Ms. Sofia Olsson, Member of IM Board, Mr. Bo. Paulsson, General Secretary, Mr. Michael Fagerberg, International Director, Mr. Janusz Lipinski, Desk Office SOIR IM Sweden, Mr. Wangchuk Gyalpo, Area Director and Mr. Guru Nyima Project Officer, India & Nepal visited Dharamsala from December 6-12. They met Ministers, Secretaries and dealing project staffs of Education, Health and Home Departments of CTA. They also visited Teacher Training Center at Sarah to see the ongoing Teacher's training program organized by DOE and funded by SOIR IM. A group of 13 members from KIKU Tibet Support Group, Japan who supported some activities at Mevon Tsuglag Peton School (New Model School) visited DOE on October 20. They met Secretary, Additional Secretary and Project Officers to discuss on those activities completed at Model School and proposed a new school bus for funding consideration in 2007. Later they visited the model school and spent some interesting moments with children. A reception was held in their honour. The new Area Representative of NCA in Sri Lanka Mr. Jan-Egil Mosand and NCA Program Advisor in Bangalore Ms. Anitha Verghese visited DOE on October 25. They met Secretary, Additional Secretary and Project officers to review projects funded by NCA in 2006. Later they also visited New Model School and interacted with the children. Vanya Kewley from London visited Dharamsala from December 9-16. During the visit, she met Secretaries and dealing staffs of Education, Health and Home Departments. She had exploratory discussion with DOE on supporting meritorious Tibetan children for pursuing medicine through scholarships and other means. She also visited New Model School and other Tibetan cultural centers. Mr. Tenzin Losay, Under Secretary, visited CST Mussoorie, Paonta, Chauntra, Bir and STS Dekyling to monitor Comic Relief funded activities in these schools and also to conduct survey on children's participation in these activities. The survey was conducted covering over 700 students on activities related to children's publication, textbooks, career counseling which forms the major component of CR project. The survey was conducted along with Mr. Kalsang Rinchen, Under Secretary, Traditional Education Section of the department. Scholarship News Talks on Scholarship Opportunities in Higher Studies Joint Secretary Tashi Dolma and Deputy Secretary Tenzin Yeshi visited the Tibetan schools in the South from October 19-29. As per guidelines given by the High Level Scholarship Committee, they gave talks highlighting upon the DoE Scholarship procedures, rules and regulations, selection process and interacted with the public and students to find out their concerns. They visited Mundgod, Gurupura, Bylakuppe and Kollegal. In the next leg of visit, Joint Secretary Tashi Dolma and Office Superintendent Lobsang Tsering covered the areas of Paonta Sahib, Herbertpur, Mussoorie, Dekyiling and Clementown from November 15-18. Thereafter, Tashi Dolma la and Under Secretary Lhundup Passang visited Dalhousie on November 23 and Tenzin Yeshi la visited Dholanji and Shimla from November 22-23. Such talks are also being scheduled for Darjeeling, Sonada, Kalimpong, Gangtok, Ravangla, Chandragiri (January 11-18, 2007) and the north-east areas of Tenzingang, Tezu, Miao and Shillong (mid-March 2007).

THE STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CTA WISHES  A Happy New Year 2007  TO ALL THE SPONSORS, DONORS & WELL WISHERS

© Copyright tcewf | | Webmaster