TCV marks its 58th founding anniversary
DHARAMSALA, Oct 23: The children of Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School were in high spirits as the three-day celebration of its 58h founding anniversary kick-started today at the school football ground with festival processions and cultural performances.
The founding anniversary was attended by among others, the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situ as the Chief Guest, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Sikyong Lobsang Sangay as the Guest of Honour along with the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and the members of the three pillars of the Tibetan democracy as well as members of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, representatives of various NGOs, TCV 20 years’ service award recipients and TCV alumni class of 1993 batch.
TCV this year themed its anniversary on “Thank You India”, as declared by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). CTA’s year-long Pan-India ‘Thank You India’ campaign kicked-off on March 31, 2018, with a series of events lined up across India as a symbol of gratitude of the Tibetan people towards their host country and to mark 60 years of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s arrival in India.
The President of the CTA Dr Lobsang Sangay and Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) delivered the official statement of the Kashag (Cabinet) and TPiE respectively
President Sangay, in his address, applauded the tireless work of the staff and the teachers of the school and further encouraged the students to draw inspiration from Education Kalon Dr Pema Yangchen who is the first TCV alumni to serve in the CTA’s cabinet ministers.
As the number of Tibetan students in the TCV has drastically reduced in the past decade, the Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel in his address urged the authorities of TCV and CTA’s education department to meet and hold discussions to avoid any oversights in the student’s education.
The Speaker further highlighted the importance of providing requisite assistance and equal facilities to the staff and teachers of TCV. Teachers at TCV schools survive on a meeker wage and earn less than the peon of CTA offices. In the past year, a total of 98 staffs have left TCV while another 15 has retired.
Cultural performances and callisthenics display by children were presented during the event and awards were presented to the TCV staffs who have completed 20 years’ service, CBSE toppers and CTA’s Department of Education’s Best Boy and Best Girl.
The inter-house athletics meet will be held tomorrow on the second day of the anniversary, followed by TCV alumni of 1993 batch gathering on the third and final day of the anniversary.
Founded with just 51 children as a nursery in 1960, TCV has thrived to become the largest residential school for the destitute Tibetan children in exile. TCV now has its branch in Ladakh in North to Bylakuppee in South India with over 10,944 children under its care.
