The schools for the refugees were intentionally created to preserve Tibetan culture and encourage Tibetan children to develop as Tibetans. Both the Dalai Lama and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru knew Tibetan children were a precious resource who needed to be educated in their own schools to preserve their culture. The students receive an education steeped in Tibetan religion, language and history. Children are first taught to understand the essential aspects of Buddhism. As they grow older, they study sacred texts in greater depth. Primary school classes are conducted in Tibetan while middle and high school levels follow an Indian curriculum with subjects taught in English. The motto of TCV is “Others Before Self” which is incorporated into the curriculum together with loving kindness, one of the foundations of Buddhism.

Jetsun Pema, who served as President of TCV for over 42 years, explained the unique qualities of the TCV:

“At TCV, we always felt teaching Tibetan children was a service we provided to our nation. Teachers were deeply committed. And as the years went by, the school children came back as teachers, nurses or staff. Their feelings towards the children and their work there makes a lot of difference. In the back of our minds, we never forget that these are Tibetan children growing up in a foreign land. Whatever we do with modern education, we believe that we have to make them aware of their Tibetan culture and that they are Buddhists and ultimately, to be proud of being Tibetans.”

Some TCV alumnae who emigrated to the West have started to send their children to TCV because the cultivation of humane values is embedded in every aspect of their education.