Message

From Department of Education, CTA, Dharamsala

May 5, 2008

I am very pleased to know that Sera Je Secondary School is going to publish a Souvenir magazine on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee to be celebrated on June 1, 2008. Fist of all, on behalf of the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I would like to heartily congratulate both Sera Je Dratsang and its School on that occasion. I would also like to send our warmest greetings to all their members.

Sera Je's pioneering venture of introducing modern school education within the traditional monastic system was on any account a bold experiment. Success of such ventures always comes with a different state and hence deserve special applaud and celebration. A word of cautious may however be necessary here. In our time of materialism and moral degradation, many extraordinary achievements often end with ordinary or even sub ordinary outcomes. Raising bright students for an important national cause with all care and cost and witnessing them depart for personal cause at the end is a good example of it.

Seeing from a wider perspective, studying modern subjects in English at traditional institute is the first step to ultimately have those studies available in the Tibetan language. Without having the modern studies and their terminologies in it, the Tibetan language however precious and unique may soon slide down to the present status of Sanskrit. The single most urgent need in averting this situation is to raise teachers and scholars who can teach modern subjects in Tibetan and write modern subject textbooks in Tibetan. Sera Je graduates who have undergone traditional Buddhist studies and completed secondary school education would be ideal candidates for such Teachers and scholars. I am confident that Sera Je Secondary School will richly contribute to the fulfillment of this historical need of the Tibetan people.

Best wishes and Tashi Delek to all.

Karma Gelek Yuthok

Secretary

Department of Education, CTA