Chief Minister’s Mentorship Programme 2025-2026 inaugurated for Pakyong District

PAKYONG, July 23 (IPR): The Chief Minister’s Mentorship Programme 2025-2026 for Pakyong District was officially inaugurated at the auditorium of Government Senior Secondary School, Dikling on Wednesday.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Education department, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with the Katalytic Charter Education Foundation (KCEF), with the objective of mentoring Class X students and enhancing their academic performance in the upcoming board examinations.
The event was graced by the presence of Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, and Fisheries Development departments cum MLA Chujachen, Puran Kumar Gurung, as the chief guest. He was accompanied by minister for Education, Sports & Youth Affairs, Law & Parliamentary Affairs departments cum MLA Namcheybong, Raju Basnet, MLA Gnathang-Machong cum Advisor, Social Welfare department and Women, Child, Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities Welfare department, Pamin Lepcha.
Also present were Zilla Upadhyaksha, Prabha Pradhan, as guest of honour and alongside Secretary (SE), Education department, Tashi Chophel.
Minister Puran Kumar Gurung, expressed his appreciation for the launch of the Chief Minister’s Mentorship Programme in Pakyong district and commended the Education Department for this forward-looking initiative. He emphasised the significance of adopting modern methods of teaching and learning to meet the evolving academic needs of students in today’s competitive world. He encouraged heads of schools to regularly brief students on the rich history of Sikkim, thereby fostering a stronger sense of identity and belonging among learners. Stressing the importance of focused academic engagement, he advised school leadership and participants to make the most of the three-day training and ensure that its outcomes translate into meaningful academic improvements at the school level.
Minister Raju Basnet, in his address, commended the heads of schools for their efforts in achieving improved board examination results. He called for continued dedication to further raise academic standards across the State. Speaking on the importance of the Chief Minister’s Mentorship Programme, he acknowledged the contribution of Katalytic Charter Education Foundation a local organisation entrusted with implementing the initiative highlighting its potential to effectively work across various districts in Sikkim.
Speaking on broader state initiatives, he emphasised that Nasha Mukt Abhiyan is a State-wide campaign that should be actively supported not only within educational institutions but across all sections of society. He urged schools to contribute by educating students on its objectives. He also addressed concerns related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, emphasising the need for vigilant monitoring by school heads and sensitising students on the subject.
He further spoke on integrating the Connect to Earth programme and yoga into school activities, aligning with the State Government’s vision to promote holistic development and well-being among students. Underscoring the government’s focus on skill development, he advocated for equipping students with practical life skills to ensure self-sufficiency. He concluded by encouraging participants to take the three-day training seriously, acquire knowledge, and to translate learning into effective classroom practices.
MLA Pamin Lepcha, in her address, described the Chief Minister’s Mentorship Programme as a well-structured, result-oriented initiative. She urged participants to actively engage with the training and apply the insights gained for the benefit of their students. Highlighting the government’s prioritisation of the education and health sectors, she outlined various scholarship schemes such as the Chief Minister’s Education Assistance Scheme (CMEAS) and the Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme (CMMSS), which aim to support students from marginalised and economically weaker sections to pursue quality education.
She drew attention to the need for nurturing street-smartness, social awareness, and essential life skills among students, along with ensuring inclusive education for children with special needs. She encouraged school heads to instill value-based learning, environmental responsibility, and traditional and cultural understanding in students. She concluded by conveying her best wishes for the success of the training programme.
Secretary (SE) Tashi Chophel congratulated the school heads for the notable improvement in Class X board examination results and encouraged them to strive toward surpassing national academic benchmarks. He stressed the importance of regular monitoring by school heads and teaching staff to identify subject specific gaps especially in Mathematics and Science and recommended incorporating modern pedagogical methods to improve comprehension. He urged participants to implement the training learnings effectively in their classrooms.
In alignment with the Chief Minister’s vision, he spoke about the Connect to Earth initiative, which will encourages students to undertake field visits twice a month to gain hands-on experience in agricultural practices. He also spoke on the importance of incorporating yoga into school routines as a means to support stress management and prevent substance abuse among students.
Director of Katalytic Charter Education Foundation, Kunzang Choki, gave an overview of the organisations mission and objectives, explaining its structured 10-phase mentorship journey designed to uplift academic outcomes.
The second session of the day, conducted by the Master Facilitator, focused on engaging participants through a need analysis, feedback sharing, and identifying key challenges encountered during the implementation of the Chief Minister’s Mentorship Programme. Heads of schools from across Pakyong District shared insights and data reflecting recent academic trends. The session also brought forward core challenges such as time management, teacher availability, student-related issues, community involvement, and logistical as well as financial constraints.
The Chief Minister’s Mentorship Programme training is scheduled for three days, from 23rd to 25th July.
The programme was also attended by additional director, Samagra Shiksha AD Chettri, CEO, Education department Narayan Mishra, joint directors, Education department along with principal, headmaster, headmistress and school in-charge under Pakyong district.