Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL)
The Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) was founded in 1988 by a group of young Ladakhis to reform the educational system of Ladakh. They organize activities for Ladakhi youth, run a campus for students going to school or college in Leh, develop solar energy projects.
Changing the Educational System of Ladakh, Since the founding of SECMOL in 1988 one of the main objectives has been to change the educational system of Ladakh. In 1994 we launched a movement to improve education in Leh District, Operation New Hope, in collaboration with the Education Department, the local government and the village community members. Substantial improvements are visible, although more could still be done.
SECMOL's Aim
To educate and help young Ladakhis obtain a more realistic perspective on development, environmental issues; revamp the Ladakhi educational system; work within the existing structure and reform it from within.
Programmes
Initially started with free-of-cost coaching classes for the students, supplemented by vocational training for dropouts. As part of a local movement called Operation New Hope, SECMOL now works with 300 government schools, gives teachers a 10-day intensive training at Saspol on the Leh-Srinagar highway, writes new primary textbooks and organises villagers to look after their schools. Has trained nearly 1,000 government schoolteachers, organised summer camps for more than 1,500 students from all over Ladakh.
Built a solar heated alternative campus, 18 km from Leh in Phey, which houses 20 hostel students studying in government institutions. The students are provided with work experience, leadership training and run most of the activities of the campus. The juniors have responsibilities like gardening, maintaining the solar lights, cooking, etc while the seniors teach the juniors, organise summer camps, arrange facilities for trainings, oversee construction, do book keeping, etc. Most decisions are made by the students resulting in new activities and programmes.
Have also organised a number of villages to take over their respective schools through Village Education Committees, 3-week summer camps for Ladakhi youth aged 16-20 waiting for their 10th class exam results. Activities include daily talks by the SECMOL director, Ladakhi song and dance, manual labour, games and general knowledge classes about anything from health to solar heating, to Ladakhi geography and history.
For further information contact:
Contact : Becky
Secmol P.O.B ox: 4, Leh 194101, Ladakh (India)
SECMOL Office in Leh : (+91) 1982 252421 / 253012 / 254863
SECMOL Campus, Phey: (+91) 1982 226120 / 226115 / 226116
Fax: 91-1982-253561
Web Site: www.secmol.org