DHARAMSHALA: The first parents’ conference organised by the education department of the Central Tibetan Administration concluded yesterday at the Lower TCV School. Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of Tibetan people, graced the concluding day of the conference. In his address, he spoke about the western way of parenting children.

“The purpose of this conference is to familiarize parents to their obligations in nurturing their kids. Parents need to know that they shoulder a huge responsibility since they hold the future seeds of Tibet,” Sikyong said.

Focusing on the importance of parental role in the proper upbringing of a child, he expressed that Tibetan parenting is bit more inactive. Narrating his own parenting skills, he said that parents need to sit back and have a dialogue with their children and listen to children’s side of opinion and then need to find ways to solve the issue. He also urged them to take keen interest in their child’s activity.

Sikyong also briefed on the Basic Education Policy, which gives importance to Tibetan linguistic tradition. He said that the core aim of introducing the new Education policy is to make the children easier in learning since children can learn better in their mother tongue.
He told them about the aspirations and achievement of the Middle-Way Approach, where he stated that most of the world’s leader have showed their support for Umaylam. He also spoke on the 141 self-immolations since 2009, he said that the causes of such acts are; political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalization, social discrimination and environment destruction in Tibet by the Chinese government.

Explaining in detail about the works done by the various departments of the Central Tibetan Administration, he said, “We have initiated various reforms in the administration. The Department of Education, last year provided Rs.400 Lacs for scholarships compared to Rs. 90 lakhs a decade ago. Last year, with efforts made by the Home department, the Government of India for the first time in our exile history initiated ‘The Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act 2014’ ensuring the sustainability of the Tibetan settlements in India. ‘Tibetan Medicare System’, a medical insurance program initiated by the health department to offer financial security to Tibetan families and individuals facing serious health problems.

“The membership of the TMS increased to 21,000 this year from 13,000 last year. And with this program, we are now able to assist more than a thousand Tibetans compared to assisting around hundred Tibetans a few years ago.

Education Kalon Mr. Ngodup Tsering, in his closing remarks, thanked the participants for their active involvement. He talked on the feedbacks for the Education department brought forward by the participants to enhance better facilitation for the Tibetan people especially the Tibetan parents in shaping the future of their kids.
Kalon also stressed on the critical plight of Tibetan language. He pleaded the attendees to focus on Tibetan language in order to teach their children better. He further added on the Tibetan population crises and urged the parents to at least produce three children per family.

Assuring the attendees about the sincere work done by the department, he thanked the entire staff of the department for their ceaseless co-operation in realizing the aspirations of the Tibetan people. He also requested the participants to share their knowledge and information gained from this workshop to fellow Tibetans in their respective settlements.