DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile discussed at length the recommendations made by the education committee of the Tibetan parliament, with regards to a parliamentary resolution on the Basic Education Policy passed during the 8th session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament.
The education committee was instituted by the Tibetan Parliament to review the implementation of the Basic Education Policy in Tibetan schools since its formulation in 2004. The committee has compiled a 63-page report following a thorough analysis of the challenges faced by the schools during implementation of the policy and explored a future possibility wherein all the Tibetan educational institutions in exile could function under one unanimous education policy. The report also features a general perception of the public of the Basic Education Policy, and the efforts and endeavors made by the education department for its implementation in the Tibetan schools.
The Basic Education Policy was formulated by the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration in 2004, based on the actual needs of the exiled Tibetans following a review of the state of Tibetan education in exile. The policy was duly approved by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in September 2004.
Under the Basic Education Policy, from the pre-primary level up to class III, no other language besides Tibetan shall be taught. The teaching of second and third languages is started from class four and class six respectively.
Besides Mevoen Petoen School, a model school based on the policy, it has been found and reported by the committee that implementation of the Basic Education Policy has been going on in full swing in all the schools of Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS) and TCV schools in Ladakh.
The committee has made recommendations on seven major issues in its report. The session will adopt a resolution on the basis of these recommendations and other suggestions made during the discussion in the parliament.
