Dharamshala: The two-day annual conference, from 11 to 12 March 2024, of the Education Council and Advisory Committee commenced earlier this morning at the Kashag (Cabinet) Secretariat.

Preside over by Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the inaugural session of the conference was attended by Education Kalon (Minister) Tharlam Dolma Changra, Chair of Education Council Geshe Lhakdor, Education Secretary Jigme Namgyal, and members of the Education Council and Advisory Committee, namely Additional Secretary Tenzin Pema (DoE), Additional Secretary Tenzin Dorjee (DoE), Education Director Ven. Tenzin Tsenlek alias Druk Tsering (TCV), Education Director Dr. Passang Tsering (THS Mussoorie), Director Tsering Dhondup (STSS), Education Officer Tenzin Rabgyal (Snowlion Foundation), Professor Ven. Lhakpa Tsering (CIHTS, Varanasi), Professor Sonam Gyaltsen (CHTS, Sarah) and Principal Nyima Dhondup (Palkhang Academy).

The meeting began with a welcome address by Additional Secretary Tenzin Pema, Director of the Office of Education Council.

In his opening remarks, Geshe Lhakdor, the Chair of the Education Council, spoke about the importance of reviewing the goals of the Council, developing a durable educational system, exposing students to Tibetan culture and customs, evaluating the impact of teachers’ instruction on students, and implementing the traditional Tibetan educational system.

Following that, Kalon Tharlam Dolma Changra of the Department of Education lauded the Council members for making assessment visits to Tibetan schools over the last couple of years and briefed the gathering on Education Department’s organisation of educational workshops at Tibetan schools in Mussoorie, Gopalpur, Kalimpong, and Bylakuppe, as well as virtual seminars for Tibetan weekend schools of Belgium, Australia and Switzerland. Education Kalon further mentioned that the department is looking forward to conducting similar programmes in the future. Additionally, she stated that the department will standardise a curriculum for Tibetan letter writing for the Tibetan class and establish a Common Examination for classes V through VIII.

The chief guest of the conference’s opening ceremony, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, in his keynote address, emphasised the need to prepare accurate data on the population of Tibetan students and to draft future educational plans in accordance with the declining numbers of Tibetan students in Tibetan schools. Sikyong further stressed updating the education system per India’s national education structure and conducting online classes for the young Tibetans who have difficulty accessing the weekend schools.