Duzing Photang School, Zanskar (Kargil):
In 1980, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama paid his first visit to Zanskar on the invitation of the Zanskar Buddhist Association and he felt the need of a school there for the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the region. He also donated some funds to the Zanskar Buddhist Association for the purpose. As a result a school was established at Duzin Photang in Zanskar (DPS, Zanskar) in September, 1984 by the Zanskar Buddhist Association for the benefit of the poor and needy students of the area. Initially 101 students were admitted in the School and three teachers were appointed. The hostel facility was also provided to the students coming from far-flung areas. Later the Buddhist residents of Zanskar also donated funds for the improvement and up-gradation of the school. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during his second visit to Zanskar in 1988 further donated funds for the development of the School. The Zanskar Buddhist Association along with the people of Zanskar represented to the then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi regarding the importance of the School with a request to take over the school by the Govt. of India on the pattern of Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh. The Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi paid his visit to Zanskar in March/April, 1988 and decided that the Govt. of India would take over the Duzing Photang School as a branch school of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh with effect from November 1, 1989. Since then, the school is being run under the financial and administrative control of CIBS, Leh. At present, students are pursuing their study from Classes I to X at DPS. DPS has an Academic Block, Library, Multi-Purpose Hall and Staff Quarters on its own campus.
Bauddha Darshan Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Keylong (H.P.):
The Bauddha Darshan Sanskrit Vidyalaya was established at Keylong in Lahul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh in 1976 with the purpose to preserve the most valuable Buddhist Arts, Culture and Language of Lahul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi, Kullu and Manali of the Himalayan State Himachal Pradesh. Initially, the Vidyalaya was running with the funds raised by the people of the region through donations. Subsequently, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India provided some financial assistance under the scheme of Financial Assistance for Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Organizations. The people of the region represented to the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for taking over of the Vidyalaya as an Autonomous Organization of the Govt. of India on the pattern of Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh and Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi. On the recommendation of the Board of Management of Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, decided to take over the Vidyalaya as a branch school of CIBS, Leh on the pattern of Duzin Photang School, Zanskar. Accordingly, CIBS, Leh took over the Bauddha Darshan Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Keylong (H.P.) as a branch school since March 5, 2010. Since then the administration of BDS Vidyalaya, Keylong is being looked after by CIBS, Leh with full financial support. BDS Vidyalaya provides the education from Classes VI to X. The Vidyalaya has its own Academic Building for conducting classes and also has a Boarding House for students coming from far-flung areas of the region.
Feeder Gonpa/Nunnery Schools:
To achieve its objectives and giving traditional and modern education to the monks and nuns of the Gonpas, the Institute is running 50 Gonpa/Nunnery Primary Schools in different monasteries which are extremely popular in the region in which 4 Gonpa schools have been upgraded as Middle school. These schools are being run in collaboration with the respective monasteries. Classrooms, hostel facilities and ritual teachings/trainings for these feeder schools are provided by these monasteries. CIBS provides one to four teachers depending on the number of enrolment in a particular Gonpa/Nunnery school. The furniture, stationeries, text books and note books along with the stipend to the students are being provided by the Institute. Novices of these Gonpa/Nunnery schools have been provided the elementary education of monastic system along with modern subjects like Bhoti, Hindi, English, Mathematics and Social Studies from Classes I to 5. These Gonpa/Nunnery Schools are located in different monasteries of Ladakh, Paldar in the Kishtawar district of J&K, and Lahul- Spiti and Kinnaur districts of H.P.