Tibetan Specialization Program:
As per the guidance by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the opportunity to specialize in Tibetan language in the school will be created to those students who are good in Tibetan so that such students will utilize their Tibetan language skill in life in various fields.
The school will assess Tibetan language and literary skills of the aspiring students by conducting entrance test and then identify them. TCV will provide scholarships for candidates that get admission into Higher Tibetan studies programs through various qualifying examinations when candidates inform the school authorities of their aspirations and get their formal approval from the school Administration. This applies to students enrolled at the school during the time of application. Such students will to be referred to Head Office for award of scholarship when admission is confirmed and approved by the School Authorities.
Vocational Education and Life Skills
The older students have a very strong mindset and wrong concept that they look down vocational training and consider it as a low class/grade. So it is very difficult to persuade in VTC career options and they do not show any interest in those trades. However, frequent talks and guidance and by video shows did help them to some extent.
The vocational training program was started in September, 2000.We provide Tibetan traditional Thangka painting and Tailoring trainings and also driving course to the students who are not sound in academic subjects and being over aged. The duration of the training course was 3 to 4 and one year respectively. Many of them have left for Tibet along with the Language students and they were also provided the same facilities and opportunity like Language students while returning to Tibet. Beside their training course, they were taught Tibetan and English Languages and provided to involve in all the co-curriculum activities organized in the school.
Many more viable vocational education and training programs are put in place for the students so that the majority of the students join these vocational streams and return to Tibet with proper life skills.
The following guidelines must be followed in screening the students:
a) After completing basic education (OC I and II), the students have the option to select any vocation of their choice set up at TCV Patlikuhl School or any other options/ avenues available
b) Those who show lack of academic ability after OC II are guided to vocational education at TCV School, Patlikuhl as per their ability, age and trade choice so that they have a skill to be self sufficient and self reliant for life. This assessment requires school Heads and staff to communicate with the students on a one-to-one basis in environments of trust and understanding.
c) A student who fails in OC II Final assessment and whose age is 16 years and below at -the time of assessment will also have the option to join at TCV School, Patlikuhl
d) Students who initially opted for Secondary Education Stream and later fail or want to opt for vocational training must be 20 years at the time of application to qualify for this change.
e) All students send for vocational training are to be referred to Head Office for arrangement of their fee for the course.
Life Skill Programs
This is one area where many staff and older students do not show much interest because they lack experiences and skills in the various activities. Despite many problems and challenges, we create and organize life skill programmes, so that when children leave the portals of TCV campus, they will have acquired certain life skills that will stand them in good stead.
We have been organizing this program for about 2 months every year. Four days a week for one hour every day. After many discussions, we were finally able to work on the life skill activities successfully and most of the students, staff members and visitors highly appreciate the work involvement and skills they have within themselves.
Some of the activities are:
Ø Paper making and flower making, Postcard making
Ø Book binding
Ø Recycle
Ø English and Tibetan creative writing, Language skills
Ø Music and dance, Band, Performing Arts
Ø Cooking
Ø Tibetan Calligraphy and lettering
Ø First Aids and nursing
Ø Computer
Ø Hand weaving, knitting, wrist band making
Ø Vegetable farming and gardening
Ø Bamboo plaiting and caning
Ø Hair cutting
Ø Mosaic
Ø Games and sports for class II and III
In the above activities, those students are included who do not participated in any cultural activities, games, sports, and literary activities etc. Weaker student and students in Opportunity Classes are also excluded from life skill activities as they were arranged a special tutorial coaching in three major subjects- Tibetan, English and Mathematics etc.
Traditional and Cultural Education
Value and Peace Education
The core of TCV education is on value clarification and internalization of values. Religious teachers endeavor that the children have a proper understanding of the school prayers, and these teachers take the main responsibility of teaching Buddhism. We implement the Value Education Guideline circulated to all the school from the TCV Head Office so that our children become self reliant, contributing members of society and good human beings.
It is true that moral values and habit formation can be caught but cannot be taught.
In addition, we encouraged all the staff members to read books on moral and Buddhist virtues, good characters and code of conduct and set an exemplary role model to the children and it is the continuous program. Below are some of the highlights of the activities carried in the school on regular occasions.
• Regular Religious Classes and Teachings by cultural and spiritual teachers on regular basis and teachings
• Buddhist Teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama , HH Sakya Trizin, HH Karmapa and other eminent lamas
• Gyalwai Shabten and Other Prayers on regular basis as on Tibetan Calendar & Incense Burning Ceremony and Prayers on Every Wednesday
• Monthly Soltsok for Juniors and Seniors alternatively and observance of religious festivals, Traditional Functions and Ceremonies
• Resource Person Talks and Weekly Teachers and Class Presentations focusing on Moral and Cultural Education
• Shenphen Rukhag and Various Voluntary Contributing Services to the school work.
• Vegetarian Club and Life Saving (Animals) Activities. Tsedar , medication and caring of animals
• Plays and Dramas on moral values and nationalism
• Kagyur and Bum reading ,Books on Value Education by H.H. the Dalai Lama
• Students voluntary service given regularly to the inpatients and the needy
• Students Social Service group to Bodh Gaya during Kagyu Monlam Teachings, monasteries, Settlements etc
• Riglam and Dialectics
• A separate religious prayer house with the typical traditional atmosphere inside
• Peace zone and Potala Palace made by the students as a class project for remembrance.
• Audio and Video cassettes on religious teaching by H.H. the Dalai Lama and others
• To put up write-ups on value education on the notice boards and the school campus corridors and areas
• Performing Arts and cultural festivals participations in and outside school