DHARAMSHALA: A task force meeting comprising of administrators and principals of Tibetan schools implementing the Basic Education Policy of the Central Tibetan Administration is currently under way.

Over 14 representatives from Sambhota Tibetan schools, Tibetan Children’s Village including senior officials of the education department are attending the two-day meeting. The meeting is organised by the academic section of the Department of Education and facilitated through the USAID’s Tibet Fund project.

The agenda for discussion during the two-day meeting include; Reviewing obstacles faced during implementation of the Basic Education Policy; Exploring effective solutions to overcome the barriers; Formulating a bi-lingual teaching method for students above class six; and Enhancing the overall administration and effectiveness of Tibetan schools.

The Basic Education Policy was formulated by the Department of Education of the 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.

“The basic education policy serves the actual needs of the exile Tibetans in preserving the traditional Tibetan values and culture and may also serve as a basis for the education policy of future Tibet,” said Education Secretary Ngodup Tsering during his inaugural address of the meeting.

Under the Basic Education Policy, from the pre-primary level up to class III, no other language besides Tibetan shall be taught and the teaching of second and third languages shall be started from class four and class six respectively.

Besides Mevon Tsugla Peton School, a model school, which undertakes full implementation of the BEP, schools of the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society, an autonomous body funded by the Education Department, has already introduced this policy at pre-primary and primary stages.