Conference on school education underscores roadmap for ‘Viksit Sikkim’

GANGTOK,  (IPR): The School Education department on Wednesday organised a programme titled “Developing Human Capital for Viksit Sikkim – Quality School Education for All”, at Chintan Bhawan, bringing together policymakers, senior officials and education experts to deliberate on strengthening the State’s school education system.

The programme was graced by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golayas the chief guest, along with Minister, Education Department, Law Department and Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Raju Basnet as the guest of honour.

Addressing the conference, the Chief Minister said that the gathering marked a significant milestone in the State’s efforts to strengthen and transform the education sector.

Expressing satisfaction over the successful conduct of the conference, the Chief Minister said that the programme was not merely an administrative review, but a serious and collective exercise aimed at shaping the future of Sikkim through education. He remarked that the presence of officers, educators and grassroots-level policy implementers from all corners of the State reflected the commitment and sincerity of the department and its personnel.

The Chief Minister stated that education is the foundation of progress and the backbone of a strong and prosperous society. He underscored the importance of further strengthening Sikkim’s education policy, stating that it must evolve into one of the finest systems in the world that’s accessible, inclusive and uncompromising in quality.

Calling for focused reforms, the Chief Minister said that government schools must become the first and most preferred choice for parents and students. He observed that the qualifications, experience and training of teachers in government schools are often stronger than those in private institutions, and that government schools also function within a sound administrative framework. Yet, he noted, many parents continue to prefer private schools. He urged the department to carefully examine the reasons behind this preference and to work with renewed determination to create a reverse exodus, where parents and students would increasingly choose government schools over private institutions.

The Chief Minister further emphasised that the goal should not be merely to educate students, but to create individuals capable of succeeding in any corner of the world.

Referring to the deliberations and presentations made during the conference, the Chief Minister appreciated the quality of the presentations and noted that they had clearly identified the shortcomings in the existing system while also offering practical suggestions and pathways for improvement. He directed that the presentations be made available to all officers of the department for future reference and institutional learning.

Describing the conference as the first of its kind in the State, the Chief Minister said he had envisioned it as a more interactive, two-way platform, and expressed hope that future conferences would encourage broader participation, idea-sharing and field-based experiences from officers and educators. He stated that such conferences should be organised periodically to review progress, assess outcomes and identify remaining challenges.

The Chief Minister said that education is an asset that can never be stolen, and reiterated that the government considers education one of its highest priority sectors. He said the State government is making sustained efforts to bring global-level education to Sikkim through strategic tie-ups, partnerships and policy support.

He acknowledged that while flaws and disparities still exist within the system, these can be addressed only through collective effort, commitment and honesty of purpose. He called upon all stakeholders to work together as Team Education and Team Sikkim to eliminate disparities and revamp the education system in a meaningful and lasting manner.

The Chief Minister also appreciated the department for bringing forward the Teacher Transfer and Posting Policy, and suggested that it be considered for conversion into an Act, so as to make it more binding, transparent and equitable for all concerned. He further recalled that the government had introduced a Teacher Regularisation Policy in 2021, which has enabled the regularisation of several teachers in a smooth and systematic manner.

Reaffirming the Government’s full support to the sector, the Chief Minister highlighted several student and teacher centric initiatives introduced by the State Government. He mentioned that National Awardee teachers are sent for international exposure tours, while State Awardees are sent for national exposure visits. He also referred to schemes such as the Nar Bahadur Bhandari Fellowship Scheme, the APATAN Scheme, and the Chief Minister’s Education Assistance Scheme, under which eligible students receive financial assistance of up to Rs. 20 lakh for pursuing MBBS.

In conclusion, the Chief Minister called for collective action, courage and innovation in reimagining education in Sikkim. He said that with commitment, vision and coordinated effort, the State can build an education system in which government schools inspire trust, opportunity becomes universal, and Sikkim emerges as a benchmark of educational excellence.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Raju Basnet underscored the importance of sustained efforts in improving educational standards and ensuring equitable access to quality education across the State. He said the programme had provided an important platform to deliberate on the future course of the State’s school education system. He noted that certain indicators had revealed alarming trends, helping the department identify critical gaps and initiate corrective measures.

He stressed the need to improve enrolment and create a more enabling learning environment, while emphasising that the ultimate focus of every policy must remain on student welfare. He also underlined the importance of adopting personalised learning pathways and evolving pedagogy in line with changing times and the individual capacities of students.

The minister further pointed out the need for a comprehensive training database to track teacher capacity-building programmes conducted by SCERT, so as to identify who has been trained and who still requires training.

Referring to the Teacher Transfer and Posting Policy, he said the policy was timely and should eventually be strengthened through legislation to ensure equity and fairness for all.

He said the conference was a significant and unprecedented initiative, and called upon all stakeholders to draw inspiration from it and work collectively towards building a Viksit Sikkim through a Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samartha Sikkim.

Earlier in his welcome address, Tashi Chophel Lepcha, secretary, School Education, set the context by highlighting the State’s commitment to improving learning outcomes and building a robust education ecosystem aligned with the vision of a Viksit Sikkim. He also made a presentation on Quarterly School Visit and Monitoring Framework.

AD Chhetri, director, Samagra Shiksha, presented an overview of the challenges facing school education, outlining key gaps and the need for targeted interventions with a Vision 2030 for Government Schools.

A series of thematic presentations followed, focusing on critical areas of reform. Rajiv Philip, DD, SCERT, spoke on strengthening foundational mathematics with EK Shaji, co-founder of JodoGyan interacting via online.

Tshering L Bhutia, additional director, SCERT, highlighted initiatives for foundational English. These sessions were complemented by virtual interactions with experts from leading institutions, including Azim Premji University and the British Council, providing broader academic perspectives.

Dr Santi Ram Adhikari, director, SCERT, presented on PM e-Vidya and special programmes for Science and Mathematics, while Asha Khatri, additional director, Samagra Shiksha, elaborated on inclusive education, followed by an interaction with Project Setu represented virtually by A Vijay Saradhi of the Empathy Bridge Foundation.

The session on CM Model School, presented by Ujjwal Khatiwada, director, CMMS, featured the success story of CM Model School in Assam Linzey, highlighting how in such a short time students have been able to gain state wide recognition through a holistic education approach. He further presented on the progress achieved in setting up two more CMMS in Hee Gyathang and Namthang which are expected to be operational in 2027 and 2028.

Additionally industry experts from national organisations such as J-PAL South Asia, EkStep Foundation, and LEP, spoke on evidence-based approaches and digital learning innovations in the education sector.

Further deliberations included presentations on health, safety, wellness and values by Anugrah E. Rai, additional director, and teacher transfer and posting policy by Lakhi D Bhutia, special secretary.

Dr Sandeep Tambe, principal secretary, in his presentation on “Quality Education: Policy Suggestions,” outlined a roadmap to make government schools in Sikkim the best in the country. He identified key challenges including declining enrolment, low learning outcomes, weak English competency, inclusive education gaps, teacher transfer issues and weak monitoring systems. He stressed the need for weekly monitoring of learning outcomes, reintegration of dropout students, support for children with special needs, English-friendly campuses, stronger libraries, a Learning Enhancement Programme and a robust school monitoring framework. He also presented eight policy suggestions aimed at improving enrolment, academic progress, English fluency, school monitoring and teacher management.

The programme concluded with the presentation of a statue of Manjushri to the Chief Minister and a vote of thanks proposed by C. Kiran Dahal, deputy director (Planning), Education department.

The programme was attended by chairperson Student Welfare Board Sonam Chopel Sherpa, OSD Education department Sonam Palzor Bhutia, PCE cum secretary(Engineering Cell) Education department Chetraj Mishra, Chief Education Officers, principals from DIET Colleges and senior officers and staff of Education department.