Shree Mangal Dvip School

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with 42% of its population living below the poverty line. Poverty, mass illiteracy, ignorance and conservatism causes a majority of Nepali children to be deprived of their basic rights to education.

 

Education is the primary vehicle by which poor children can lift themselves out of poverty. Thrangu Rinpoche established Shree Mangal Dvip School in 1987, with a vision of providing an education for children from the Himalayas. While offering these children a secular education, SMD School also helps to preserve Tibetan Buddhism as well as the language and the cultural identity of Himalayan peoples.

 

Teaching of The Buddha

 

SMD School is a well-equipped and renowned Buddhism school in Nepal.

 

The Main School offers a full education following the government curriculum (Math, Science, English, Nepali, Social Studies, Computer etc) enriched by instruction in Tibetan language and culture. Classes are taught in English. Instruction is given in the teachings of the Buddha and the children take part in prayer and meditation (Chenrezig) every day.

 

As a Buddhist school, Rinpoche kindly arranged for a monk to give instruction every Monday evening on the meaning of the sadhana, how to chant the liturgy and how to do the visualization. Students are learning what the Buddha taught and what it means for them in their daily life.

 

Students

 

In 2006, the school hosts 230 boarders and 369 day students. Most of the children at SMD School come from the high mountains of Nepal, the average walk from their village to the nearest road takes at least a week and students must therefore spend lengthy periods of time at the school until they have completed their education. A majority of the students are boarders, but monks and nuns who attend as day students.

 

Life at SMD

 

The school year starts in April of one year, and finishes the following April. There are a couple of long holidays every year. Classes run 6 days a week, with Saturdays off.

 

The students get up at 5:00am or 6:00am. They wash their faces, brush their teeth and dress in play clothes. Breakfast is at 7:00am, and then they have free time until classes start at 9:00am. Most of the kids use this time for preparation of homework.

 

Instruction is given from 9:00am until 3:30pm. Cultural, art and sports activities are offered from 3:30pm until 4:30pm. Early-morning and late-afternoon tuition (extra instruction) is offered for those who need extra help. The most difficult subjects are Tibetan and Nepali and Math.

 

Dinner starts at 6:00pm till 7:00pm. After dinner they must do their homework. Bedtime is by 10:00pm.

 

Admission Requirements

 

Enrollments are limited and will be accepted on space available basis, each application must be supported by letters of reference from rinpoches, Thrangu monks, or applicant's parents/ sublings whose have studied at the School. Admitted students may be put on the waiting list. The average waiting time is seven years. Ages range from 4 years to 22 years.

 

SMD Branch School For Young Monks at Namo Buddha

 

In 2000, Rinpoche opened " SMD Branch School for young monks at Namo Buddha " (about 2 hours away from the Main School). There are about 100 monks at Namo Buddha.

 

SMDBS was established to relieve overcrowding in the main school, the Branch School runs from Class 5 up to Class 8. Until they finish class 8, then they come back down to the main school to finish Classes 9 and 10.

 

The Main School : Curriculum

 

Classes range from Nursery (Kingergarden) to School Leaving (Class 10). Upon finishing Class10, students must write national board exams (in Nepali) and if successful, are awarded a School Leaving Certificate (SLC). Ten SMD students have won scholarship at some of the best high school in the world, and have gone to United World Colleges.

 

When monks and nuns reach adulthood, they are able to choose full ordination, or leave the school with skills and academic knowledge, enter the society to make a living.

 

Classes 11 and 12 are a prerequisite for university entrance, but SMD is too crowded to offer plus two. Schools offering Classes 11 and 12 are urban and for-profit. If students cannot afford tuition fees, the school authorities will offer them suitable support / assistance in accordance to various individual needs and circumstances.

 

Inter-school / Extra-curricular Activities

 

Thrangu Rinpoche encourages students to participate in inter-school / extra-curricular activities and competitions to further increase their self-confidence, gain experience outside the school environment, strengthen their inter-personal skills, and develop academically, morally, aesthetically, physically and socially. Students participate in the various activities such as:-

 

Sports : Basketball, Foorball (soccer), Race walking, Weight-lifting.

 

Music and Dance : Tibetan and Nepali folk dance, classical Tibetan opera, Nepali pop music.

 

Pilgrimages : During the long holidays, school takes students out on picnics and pilgrimages.

 

Friday Night Group : Students are meetings on Friday nights to learn shamatha meditation and talk about the Dharma and individual responsibility.

 

Kid Power : Kid power is authority or rights given to kids so they can do positive deed towards the betterment of the school and society. It helps students to build up leadership skills and help them to become independent.

 

Life Skills Trainings : School rented a flat across the street from the school compound. All the Seniors and two teachers live in the flat. Usually there are 10 - 12 students living in, learning how to buy food, cook, clean, and get along with multiple roommates.