August 21, 2019
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TCV Suja organised a “Sharing of teaching and learning experience conference 2019” today in school conference hall. This is first of its kind organised in the school and it carries in-depth aim and objectives. This program also came out as part of Professional Development Program for all teachers. Every teaching members of senior and junior section participated in the program.
All the teachers gathered at school conference hall at around 10 am after the first period. The program convener Gen Choephel la welcomed the gathering and especially welcomed all guests and key speakers for the program. The guests included TCV school Education Director Sonam Sichoe la, joint secretary Department of Education, CTA Tenzin Dorjee la, headmasters from neighbouring TCV schools and TCV PGP coordinator Tenzin Dhargyal la. The program started with lighting of butter Lamp by the chief guest, Gen Sonam Sichoe la, Education Director TCV schools. The lighting of butter lamp symbolises expelling of darkness.
Introductory and welcome speech came from school principal Karma Sherab la. He expressed the aims and purpose of holding the program, “Sharing of teaching and learning experience conference 2019” in TCV Suja and thanked all key speakers for having accepted the invitation.
The first key speaker was Mrs. Tenzin Choekyi la, Headmistress and English teacher Upper TCV followed by Mr. Lhundup Namgyal la, experienced science teacher from Lower TCV and Mr. Passang la, Tibetan language teacher from Paeton school Dharamshala. They all came up with their presentations and shared their various teaching strategies and experiences that worked best for them and also mentioned strategies that didn’t work. They outpoured the audience with the gems of knowledge that they have acquired in the process of their teaching profession and shared it among all other teachers. It was a very educative and an awe-inspiring session. All the three speakers unanimously agreed to the points that Teaching is a learning process, Planning is indispensable, Dedication and passion is the driving force and finally adjusting and changing oneself to the need of a student is significant. “Try to be right kind of a teacher if you don’t have the right kind of student.”
After the sharing sessions by the key speakers, a book launch was held. A Tibetan book authored by ex. dialectic teacher Ven. Thupten jamyang of TCV Suja was unveiled today by Education Director and the joint secretary of department of education CTA. Ven. Thupten Jamyang la narrated a brief self introduction and gave little insight to his new book. His book is a translation of various works of the great intellectual late Gendun Choephel la from Hindi to Tibetan. He narrated his account of hard work and many hours of perspiration for the realisation of the book.
Finally, the Education Director Sonam Sichoe la delivered the concluding speech for the event. He applauded Ven Thupten Jamyang la for the book launch and the key speakers for their valuable sharing. Having been a teacher himself for a very long time and still serving TCV as the Education Director, he tabled his own experiences and knowledge on Teaching Profession. He winded up his speech reminding all teachers that ‘Teachers are the one who can bring a change in a student and all teachers should turn every stone to make that change happen.’
The key speakers were than honoured with a souvenir and traditional auspicious Khatak by the joint secretary of Education Department, CTA.
The educative event came to an end after a vote of thanks from school Director Mr. Namdol Tashi la. He thanked each and every people gathered in the hall for their presence and participation. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the key speakers for their valuable sharing. He also especially thanked school Principal Karma Sherab la for coming up with the idea and taking initiative to organise the program in the school. The program ended at a very positive note.
A short report on my recent visit to TCV Bylakuppe as a part of my annual Teacher Professional Development (TPD) on-site school visit and follow-up. My stay was from 15th March to 27th March. TCV Bylakuppe was having the hottest time of the year and as such having their Summer Time Table, when classes were held early and likewise released early with afternoon, literally free. Class X and XII students are in the middle of their CBSE examinations, eyes buried in their books with concerned teachers visiting their respective dorms and hostels to encourage them and guide them. There were Inter-Class Basketball, Football and Kho Kho tournaments on one side and a remedial Tibetan class for the Primary teachers as a part of Language Across Curriculum (LAC). A monthly religious and Ethics talk coincided with my visit there.The talk was just half an hour in the afternoon followed by Q&A on Kindness, one of the ten competencies of secular ethics. Mr. Dawa Dhoundup la, shared his SEL workshop which he had attended at Drepung Loseling, Mundgod with both Junior and senior section teachers.
As a part of BEP, this year English is being introduced in class IV for the first time after three years. Every where there is fear and anxiety of how our children and teachers will cope. This isn’t a case any more and nothing much to worry. The English teachers are taking extra responsibility and doing their best. Here in this school, there are 2 class IVs. TCV English mentor Mrs. Tenzin Pelmo la is here and in touch with the English teachers every day. A lot of progress is going in these two classes whether it is classroom print rich culture or teaching or students’ willingness.
TPD which is the on-going teacher’s self directed professional development implemented in all the Tibetan schools in exile, is being carried out effectively under the leadership of the school heads and the concerned department heads. In the previous year, apart from the Lesson study, Peer Observations, Book Discussion, some of these dedicated teachers have prepared teaching materials and pooled resources. Teachers had also participated in submitting their articles for the TCV Sheyon magazine. With kind initiative from the school heads, they entire teaching fraternity had successfully watched the movie “Freedom Writers” to motivate and re energize one another. Another one is coming too this year. Enveloping and seeing dedicated people around always bring positive vibes and this I felt it there.
This year as per the minutes of the Education Development Committee (EDC)meeting, a common TPD period/timetable was created during which teachers work on their respective collaborative programs and activities. During my stay there, I met each and every department member and chairpersons. I also visited the Montessori class and the teachers. They shared their plans and activities for this academic session. I wish them all the best.I am also overjoyed to see the projects and the financial supports from the TCV Bylakuppe Alumni. Their contributions are making a big difference in the lives of so many young children here. I personally want to thank them and hope this support continues as a gesture of moral support for the staff members who are working so hard.
As per the request from the senior headmaster, I gave half an hour motivational talk to the senior students in the school hall after evening prayer. Like other teachers, I enlightened them about the untapped power they all have and how this power remained embedded because of the false beliefs; I enlightened them about the Subconscious mind, Meta learning. Last but not the least I told them about the importance of respecting teachers and feeling the sacrifices of their parents.PPT:
Apart from the hordes of responsibilities each school Principal have, taking care of the professional development of the teachers under his/her jurisdiction comes in the highest order. This year, TCV Gopalpur principal has organized an intensive refresher’s course on Lesson Planning and CBSE Life Skill Programs and the same was later given to TCV Himachal schools. The resource person Mrs. Vijayan Kartha, MA, M.ED having a career span of 30+ in the field of Education and Development is a sought after speaker in the local and national forums on Education and social change. She is also a winner of National Award for Teachers in 2007 and many more awards in the list.
(Excepts from tcvsuja.wordpress.com) In her first session, she talked about the importance of the role of a teacher in molding a child’s life. Quoting few incidents and narratives from her own years of teaching, she filled the atmosphere with waves of inspiration. 
In her second session, she discussed in detail the importance of a Lesson Plan in teaching and presented few slides on it. The session entailed few hands on activities for the participant teachers in creating lesson plan for a topic. She made all teachers to sit in a group that teach same subjects together. And then gave on activities to each group to discuss and make a lesson plan on a chosen topic from their textbook and later presented it to everyone in the workshop. After each presentation from the groups, she gave her professional feedback. The morning session thus culminated with the completion of workshop on Lesson Planning. In the afternoon session, Mrs. Kartha took a session on ‘Life skill’ classes taken in school.
The very purpose of giving life skill education to student is to prepare our children to all adversities or challenges of life positively. The biggest problems of our youngsters these days are the failure to cope with their emotional challenges. So, Life skill classes in all schools are made mandatory. Mrs. Kartha took the session by talking on the ten life skills as put out by WHO. She talked on importance of each skills by giving out factual data and sharing many more narratives from her personal experiences. She also emphasized on taking life skill classes by referring to the ‘Life Skill book’ CBSE. In the evening session, the teachers participated in group activities where each group chose one of the life skills topic and planned and presented their topic to the whole group. Taking a role play of a classroom scenario, each group delivered their topics very efficiently. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kartha gave her comments after each presentation. At the end of the session, Mrs. Kartha repeatedly spoke on the importance of a role of a teacher in child’s life and requested everyone to grow within.
She visited all the Himachal TCV schools within a short time span and conducted this important intensive workshop for the teachers. Each school Principal and the teachers gave a hearty welcome wherever she visited and the workshop went a great success in all the schools. Finally, she was given a loving farewell by the Principal of TCV Gopalpur Gen Phuntsok Tashi la with a traditional white Tibetan scarf.
Mr. Cheme la talk on “ Continuous Teacher Professional Development” was attended by all the Upper TCV school teachers, Principals, Headmasters and Department heads from Himachal TCV schools and as such there was a huge attendance. The Education Director, Mr. Sonam Sichoe la welcomed the resource person and the attendees and gave a brief introduction of Mr. Tenzin Cheme la.
This hour long presentation by Mr. Tenzin Cheme la very effective for all the teachers and school leaders especially at a time when the schools re-opens after the long winter holiday. There was a strong message and motivation for the teachers. The take away from this presentation was- the importance of teacher’s continous professional development so that they can make their teaching more effective and achieve their respective goals. He also told the teachers to work smart, not work hard and produce the desired result without missing the rich culture and language.
