By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Aug 4: Lower TCV school, a pioneer school in the exile Tibetan set up based in India celebrated the opening ceremony of the first residential school for Tibetan students from overseas on Friday in a bid to preserve the Tibetan identity and language for children based in the west.
The initiative by Tibetan Children Village for overseas Tibetan children living abroad aims to impart Tibetan language skills and cultural traditions, while simultaneously teaching modern education. At the moment, only students from the fourth to eighth grades are enrolled.
Only five overseas children ( 3 boys and 2 girls) have arrived in school from the registered eight. The school which was on the verge of closing in 2020 has now 73 students mostly from Arunachal, Tawang and the Himalayan region.
TCV Director Sonam Sichoe said that initially, the aim was to gather around sixty students from abroad. Fifteen students were enrolled earlier but due to visa issues, the numbers further dwindled. He further stated, “It’s sad to see only a few children have enrolled on this programme but regardless of the numbers, the school will proceed as planned”.
He said, “In Tibet, the Chinese authorities are closing schools and transferring Tibetan children to colonial boarding schools to sinicise the young Tibetan children. The Tibetan children inside Tibet do not have the opportunity and facilities to study the Tibetan language but in exile, we have both facilities and opportunities due to the efforts of His Holiness the 14 Dalai Lama, hence we have to preserve the Tibetan language and culture.”
Sichoe further stated that critics of the initiatives say that “this initiative by TCV is to make profits but it’s not true the sole aim of this programme is to provide Tibetan education”. The fees for overseas students cost US$350 per child per month for tuition, room and board.
Lobsang Sherab from New York, a parent of two children who enrolled in the school, shared his thoughts with Phayul, “The primary reason for bringing my children here is to instil Tibetan character in them. Education can be procured from anywhere, but my hope is to instil kindness and the Tibetan nature in my children. I would be satisfied if my children acquired Tibetan character and language. In foreign countries, it is hard to learn Tibetan ways. There, the children are Tibetan only in name; only their face is Tibetan, but their behaviour and personality are like Westerners, which saddens the heart.”
He further explained, “The weekend schools in New York are only gathered on weekends, so the time is very limited, and the children speak English in the classes. There are no substantial results in terms of inculcating Tibetan language, culture, and traditions in the children, which is why I brought my children here. Although my children are not very excited to go to school here, it is up to the parents to decide the future of their children. I have thought for their future, keeping in mind the importance of preserving the Tibetan identity.”
In their social media handles, the school expressed excitement and anticipation stating “We are excited to see these students integrate into our community and bring their diverse perspectives and experiences. The entire school is abuzz with anticipation and enthusiasm as we prepare to support them in this new journey. Some students are still yet to report they will soon join here. We wish them the best of luck for their upcoming new session in the new school and hope they find this experience both enriching and memorable”.
2 Responses
Are you suggesting that Tibetan nature and character are superior to those of the West? If that’s the case, why are you living in the West? Perhaps you should return to India and settle there, then send your kids to the schools you prefer. Let’s be honest: don’t claim that a child’s future is entirely in their parents’ hands. What does “future” mean to you? Is it imposing your desires on your children, even if they don’t share them? If so, why not send them to a circus and have them perform like trained animals? In a circus, animals are instructed and do exactly as they’re told, whereas animals in the wild are free and happy.
Please learn to ask your children what they think. Treat them as individuals, not as objects to control. The responsibility of parents is to provide a roof over their heads, good food, and clothing—not to dictate their “future,” whatever that means to you. They are humans, just like you, and they don’t want to be controlled. As a parent, you should offer unconditional love and support to your children. It’s not about anything else but saying, “I am here to love and support you.” It’s that simple. Make your life easy, and your children’s lives will become easier. Just watch and support their growth instead of dictating their every move.
I’m curious if you’ve observed the reality in the Western world. Parents often spend a lot of time outside the home to manage their bills and may not have much time to spend with their children. As a result, kids can become more isolated and engage heavily with virtual life online.
From what I’ve seen, children in Western countries sometimes become isolated and socialize less with others, which can lead to more antisocial behavior. Sending these children to a Tibetan school could help them become more aware of their culture and society, rather than solely adapting to Western ways of life.