Dharamsala, Part II

Education in Dharamsala

We were fortunate enough to interview directors of various Tibetan schools, nunneries and the Transit School. When Tibetan refugees arrive in India, they are transported to the refugee center. They await their rare meeting and personal blessing from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

After the blessing, younger refugees are placed in the Sherub Gatsel Lobling School (Tibetan Transit School) where they have the option to remain for up to five years. The school has approximately 700 students. There they are taught a trade, language skills, technical training and education along with food and board. These young refugees have the option to stay the five years or leave earlier. After their time at the Transit School, either they go to a regular school, begin working, or are placed in one of the many Tibetan centers all over India. Some go back to Tibet so that the Tibetan culture is preserved and the aim of independence is never forgotten. I was impressed with their organization and outreach to the International community.

We interviewed the Director of a Tibetan and Indian school in Dharamsala who is a very excited about the work he does with the schools. Because the school is a mix of Tibetan and Indian students, he stressed ongoing cultural exchanges during childhood. This ensures a mutual understanding between ethnic Indians and the Tibetans. He told us the Indian government has been good to the Tibetans and allowed them to freely live in Dharamsala, while allowing them to preserve their culture...in many ways better than in Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has aided his people well, and people all over have been generous to the Tibetans out of care and concern.

School children taking a break at the Tibetan cultural festival. Tibetan school girls out for a walk.

Dining hall for primary school children

Overall, my findings led me to conclude that Dharamsala schools are in fairly good condition, and are constantly being improved and modernized. We learned that Tibetan schools and the new villages that are propping up in the region are funded heavily through international philanthropy. Funding also comes from the Dalai Lama Foundation, Tibet Administration and other standard governmental aid.

There are clear differences between the needs of Indian schools and the Tibetan schools. The pressing needs of many Tibetan schools included: improving the building structure of some schools, better benches, softer mattresses, and more nutritional food. However the many poor Indian schools had very critical needs such as an actual structure, walls, non-dirt floors, stationary, books, and other basic essentials. The manner in which the Tibetan government in exile has created, maintained and modernized their school system should serve as an example to many Indian states that have been unable to do the same for their own schools.

Kids in their music class excited to see us!
Tibetan girl dressed for her art and music class.