15-Day Summer Academic Enrichment Programme Underway at Lower Bermiok Higher Sanskrit School, Promoting Multilingual Learning and Holistic Education
Gyalshing, August 29: The 15-Day Summer Academic Enrichment Programme at Lower Bermiok Higher Sanskrit School is being conducted with enthusiasm, providing students with opportunities to learn Sanskrit along with various languages, modern subjects, yoga, personality development and the rich Indian knowledge tradition. The programme, which began on August 17, will conclude with a special ceremony on August 31.
The programme is being organised under the joint aegis of the Directorate of Languages, Education Department, Government of Sikkim, and Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, with the objective of promoting holistic learning among students.
As part of the programme, resource persons from different linguistic fields continued to provide training to the students today. Along with Sanskrit, students are receiving learning opportunities in Nepali, Hindi, English and other subject areas, helping them develop language skills, confidence and a greater interest in learning.
The training sessions are not limited to textbooks. Students are being encouraged to learn through practical communication, interaction, presentations and creative activities. This approach has enabled them to learn new words and expressions, communicate their ideas in different languages and gain an understanding of diverse knowledge traditions.
Established in 1975, Lower Bermiok Higher Sanskrit School has been making a significant contribution to the preservation and promotion of Sanskrit education and Vedic traditions for decades. The institution has further strengthened its educational identity through the introduction of a residential Gurukul system, which has been functioning since 2020–21.
Under the Gurukul system, students are provided with an integrated learning environment combining modern education with Sanskrit, Vedic studies, yoga, values, moral education and spiritual learning.
The active involvement and dedication of School Principal Purna Nepal, the entire teaching fraternity and parents have played an important role in making the programme successful. The coordinated efforts of teachers and the active participation of parents have provided additional strength and encouragement to the initiative.
The participation of resource persons from different languages and academic fields has further enriched the programme. Students have been receiving opportunities to interact directly with subject experts and learn beyond the boundaries of their regular classroom environment.
According to the school authorities, the purpose of education is not merely to achieve good marks in examinations but to ensure the holistic development of knowledge, skills, values, confidence and personality among students. The ongoing programme has been designed with this broader vision in mind.
The 15-day programme has brought together traditional knowledge and modern education. Along with Sanskrit and Vedic traditions, students are being exposed to subjects such as Science, Commerce, Economics, Astrology, Yoga, Personality Development and various languages, thereby broadening their educational horizons.
Adding a unique spiritual dimension to the learning environment is the presence of the ancient Ratomate Shiva Temple, located near the school. The temple, believed to have existed since ancient times, continues to remain an important part of the local heritage. The sound of the temple bell and the chanting of Sanskrit mantras from the Gurukul seem to create a beautiful connection between tradition, knowledge and values.
The programme will conclude on August 31, when the students are expected to showcase their learning, experiences and achievements gained during the 15-day programme.
The initiative at Lower Bermiok carries an important message: modern education and one’s language and cultural heritage are not opposites; rather, they can complement and strengthen each other.
While knowledge opens the door to the future, values and संस्कार provide the right direction to walk through it. With this vision, the 15-day programme has created an atmosphere of enthusiasm, learning and renewed confidence am
