Dharamshala: The Department of Education of Central Tibetan Administration is organising a week-long leadership workshop for students of class X  from 21-27 December.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering presided over the inaugural ceremony and was joined by Traditional Academic Section Head, Additional Secretary Tenzin Dorjee, Deputy Secretary Ngodup Tenpa, Joint Secretary Jamyang Wangyal and other concerned staff.

Additional Secretary Tenzin Dorjee delivered the welcome and introductory address, remarking that the workshop was taking place after 2 years of COVID-restrictions against gathering and added that the programme was in keeping with the Basic Education Policy. He informed that 27 schools and a total of 114 students were participating in this workshop.

In his address to the students, Sikyong Penpa Tsering noted that in his settlement-wide tour, he had covered most of the schools except those in Dharamshala and he was looking forward to doing so through this workshop. He urged students to study the arrangement of the schedule and give their feedback on the same to the organisers to help them in their future planning of such workshops.

He reminded Tibetans to live in harmony with the locals and further appealed students to maximise the benefit of such workshops which came from sponsors who took interest in improving the conditions of the Tibetan community.

He also reiterated the importance of knowing one’s history and retold the account of Tibetans fleeing to India under great duress and how the first generation of exile suffered in the extreme weather of India working as road construction labourers owing to whom Tibetans of this generation are living in considerable comfort. He also apprised the students briefly on the Tibetan history, the evolution of democracy, Tibet’s climate and environment which is under the threat of extinction.

Stressing on the importance of keeping a database and systematic record of the student population, he said this was necessary in order to best govern the schools.

Thereafter, Deputy Secretary Ngodup Tenpa delivered the vote of thanks.

The sessions range from “Leaders of Future Tibet” at which Sikyong was the guest speaker, including “Standardised Terms”, “Importance of Tibet’s environment”, “Evolution of Tibetan Democracy”,” Secular Ethics”, “China’s Policy on Tibet”,  and “Introduction to CTA”, followed by visits to CTA Departments.