Learning in the Hills: A Landmark Documentation of Sikkim’s Education System

 The story of education in Sikkim is not just about schools and policies - it is a journey from oral traditions to modern classrooms. Learning in the Hills captures this transformation with rare depth and authenticity.

The history of modern education in Sikkim is relatively recent, yet the roots of learning in the region run deep. Long before the advent of formal schooling, the animistic communities of Sikkim nurtured rich traditions of oral knowledge and ethnobotanical wisdom, passing them down through generations as a form of informal education. These traditions were not merely instructional - they shaped belief systems, guided daily life, and sustained a close relationship with nature.

A significant transition occurred in the seventeenth century with the establishment of the Namgyal dynasty by three Tibetan lamas. This period marked the gradual emergence of institutional Lamaic education through the founding of monasteries. Known as monastic education, this system became an organised form of learning, deeply rooted in spiritual and cultural practices.

Modern school education in Sikkim, however, began much later, with the arrival of missionaries in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Despite this relatively recent beginning, documenting its evolution has remained a challenge. The absence of systematic recordkeeping and the inaccessibility of many historical records have compelled earlier scholars and researchers to rely largely on anecdotes and personal recollections. Consequently, variations in data and contradictions in information have persisted. Even schools themselves have often struggled to compile and publish their own histories, as seen in the gaps within jubilee souvenirs. Most available research, whether online or offline, has been produced in fulfilment of academic degrees, with only a handful of independent works intended as enduring references for future generations.

Against this backdrop, the recent two-volume publication, Learning in the Hills: The Journey of Elementary Education in Sikkim, stands as a sincere effort to gather these scattered fragments and weave them into a coherent and connected narrative of the state’s educational journey. The volumes were released at an intimate family gathering on January 15, 2026, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

The publications unveiled in January and February 2026

Learning in the Hills (Volume One) traces the earliest forms of learning in Sikkim, beginning with oral and community-based traditions, moving through the rise of monastic institutions, and culminating in the establishment of modern schools. It explores how educational institutions were founded, how children - including those with diverse abilities - engaged with these spaces, and how communities and the government collectively contributed to expanding access and strengthening infrastructure across the state. Drawing upon the author’s extensive experience as an educational administrator and planner under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for over fifteen years, the volume is enriched with authentic insights and detailed documentation. Notably, it includes an impressive compilation of nearly 225 tables, making it a data-rich resource. Spanning over 550 pages and organised into eight comprehensive chapters, the volume offers both depth and breadth in its exploration of elementary education in Sikkim.

The chapters broadly focus on:

• Historical and cultural foundations of education in Sikkim
• Transition from informal to modern education systems
• Growth of institutions and access to elementary education
• Children’s participation, including inclusive education
• Infrastructure development through government–community collaboration
• Welfare initiatives supporting retention and student performance

Volume One includes a foreword by Shri Sonam Lepcha, former Director of School Education, Sikkim; a reflective commentary by Smt. Bandana Chettri, Principal of Namchi DIET, and a message from the renowned Nepali litterateur Shri Thiru Prasad Nepal.

Learning in the Hills Volume One

Modern education, however, demands far more than the historical foundations outlined in the first volume. This realisation informed the development of Learning in the Hills (Volume Two), which explores how Sikkim recruited and prepared its teachers to manage schools, educate children, and effectively utilise available infrastructure. It also documents sustained efforts to strengthen pedagogical capacities, enabling teachers to align their practices with evolving educational philosophies.

The narrative further extends to curriculum development, textbook production, and the range of government policies and programmes that collectively nurtured Sikkim’s elementary education system, bringing it on par with those of more advanced states within the Indian Union. Substantially larger than the first, Volume Two comprises 624 pages and includes over 130 data tables embedded across six chapters.

Learning in the Hills Volume Two

This volume features a foreword by Shri K.C. Gyatso, former Director of the Education Department, Government of Sikkim; heartfelt reflections by Shri O.P. Sapkota, former Director of Education; and Smt. Parumita Rai, Principal, DIET Gyalshing. The chapters broadly focus on:

• Evolution of teacher management and recruitment systems
• Development of teacher education and professional growth
• Changes in curriculum and classroom practices
• Assessment systems and learner performance trends
• Growth of educational administration and monitoring
• Policy evolution and the author’s experiential insights

The author presents these volumes under the name Dhan B. Seling Subba, though his official name is Dhan Bahadur Subba. In the foreword of Volume One, Shri Sonam Lepcha observes:

“Mr Subba’s deep understanding of the state’s educational journey, coupled with his first-hand experience as a senior officer in the Education Department, Government of Sikkim, where he served with distinction and retired as Deputy Director, has lent this volume remarkable depth and authenticity. His earlier literary work, Nirbaad Ujayaalaaharu (A Collection of Stories), has earned wide recognition, with several of his stories included in the postgraduate reference syllabi of Sikkim University and North Bengal University. Many postgraduate students have undertaken research on his literary persona under the pen name Dhan ‘Nirdosh’ Subba, further affirming his stature as a creative writer and intellectual.

A recipient of several prestigious honours, including the Shrastha Puraskar, Dr Sova Kanti Thegim (Lepcha) Smriti Puraskar, and the National Award in Education, Mr Subba stands as a beacon of academic excellence and commitment.”

In the acknowledgements, the author expresses deep gratitude to the Education Departments at both the State and National levels for the many opportunities that enabled his professional growth and allowed him to contribute meaningfully to the holistic development of school education in Sikkim. He also conveys his heartfelt appreciation to the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) for shaping his understanding of educational planning, monitoring, and governance; to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for its rich repository of educational literature that supported his research and validation processes; and to the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) for its valuable documents related to the recognition and functioning of teacher education institutions in the state.

The author further acknowledges that his association with Educational Consultants India Ltd. (EdCIL) for over a decade - particularly in the area of quality interventions under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan - significantly enriched his academic and professional perspectives. He remains sincerely thankful to all his colleagues and consultants at EdCIL for their collaboration and insights.

He also acknowledges with gratitude the Endangered Archives Programme of the British Library, along with various online research repositories, for providing access to rare archival materials and scholarly works that were vital to the completion of this work.

Alongside these historical volumes, Shri Subba has authored a compelling educational memoir as a tribute to all those who journeyed with him as co-travellers in his role as a change-maker. The memoir gracefully recounts his 33-year career in the Education Department, from teacher to educational administrator, while documenting his initiatives beyond official duties that contributed to transforming educational practices in the state.

A Narrative of Lived Experiences

These volumes stand as an invaluable resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers and as a lasting contribution to understanding Sikkim’s educational journey. Readers are strongly encouraged to engage with these works.

&