Canada: On 5 October 2025, Education Secretary Jigme Namgyal of the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), visited the Gangjong Choedenling – Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre (TCCC) – in Ontario. The weekend school, run under the Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario, is one of the largest among approximately twenty-four weekend schools across North America.
Education Secretary Namgyal met with the executive members of the Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario and Gangjong Choedenling, led by President Deki Shukla, as well as the school’s principal, Dechen Dorjee and the teaching staff, and the president of the Parents’ Committee. After visiting the classroom and meeting with students, Secretary Jigme Namgyal joined the executive members, principal, teachers, and Parents’ Committee members for lunch, where they engaged in discussions and exchanges.
At the same time, school representatives warmly welcomed Education Secretary Jigme Namgyal and provided a brief overview of the school. He suggested that if the Department of Education could develop an online platform based on the existing curriculum, offering around half an hour of daily instruction for Tibetan children abroad, which would allow learning opportunities beyond weekends.
He also recommended providing in-depth training on teaching methodologies for teachers and suggested that it would be beneficial if the Department of Education could collaborate with local schools to organise a one-month summer school program during the summer vacation.
Following the welcome, Education Secretary Jigme Namgyal praised the teachers and emphasised that the efforts and dedication of both teachers and parents are indispensable for the preservation and continuation of the Tibetan language and culture. He encouraged them to take responsibility for this important work. In his brief remarks, he further acknowledged that while challenges may arise in a time-constrained society like Canada, they should not lose heart and should continue teaching with even greater dedication than before.
Education Secretary Jigme Namgyal is currently on an official visit to Ottawa, Canada, in connection with the leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration under Sikyong. His trip from Ottawa to Toronto coincided with the weekend session of the Gangjong Tibetan Language and Culture School, which provided an opportunity for him to visit the school.
