Sikkim’s Chief Minister Model School, established in Assam Lingzey, East Sikkim, is completing its first year. The fully residential school, started under the Model School Act 2025, focuses on merit-based admissions and holistic education for students from Class 6.
Leadership Focus and Merit-Based Selection
The school aims to cultivate future leaders by integrating education with sustainability, culture, and innovation. Students are selected through a rigorous scholarship examination, prioritizing academic merit. Director Colonel Ujjwal Khatiwada stated the vision is to create a center of excellence within the government system.
“The bright sparks are being given a platform,” Khatiwada explained, emphasizing that the selection process promotes healthy competition among students in lower grades. The school currently has 32 girls and 26 boys, with girls outperforming in admissions.
Enrollment includes students selected purely on merit, alongside those who are meritorious within their specific communities or regions, ensuring representation from across Sikkim. This inclusive approach makes the school a “mini Sikkim,” according to Khatiwada.
Daily Schedule and Holistic Development
A typical day begins at 5:30 AM with physical training, a mix of yoga and a curriculum developed with the sports department. Students participate in a hydration drill to combat dehydration common in hilly regions.
The academic schedule includes classroom learning, rest periods, games, and a two-hour evening study session. Students also have self-study and library time before retiring at 9 PM. Wednesdays and Saturdays are dedicated to hobbies and vocational subjects.
Students can choose from activities such as carpentry, electrician trades, and Thanka painting. The school plans to introduce coding, cooking, bakery, pottery, and STEM education, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP).
Industry Exposure and Skill Building
The school emphasizes practical learning through industrial visits. Students visit facilities like the Sikkim Milk Union to gain insights into dairy production. Workshops at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) provide hands-on experience in various trades.
The school is committed to imparting financial literacy, with every student maintaining a bank account and using email for communication to promote digital literacy. Teacher mentorship and enhancement classes are also a core component.
Within its first year, 17 out of 59 students have enrolled in Olympiads. All students are part of the Scouts and Guides program to instill discipline and self-reliance. The school also incorporates spiritual development through programs like Utkarsh Yoga with the Art of Living.
Mentorship and Expansion Plans
The school implements a “buddy pair” system, where senior students mentor new students, teaching them table manners and mess etiquette. This fosters responsibility and leadership skills.
Teachers are selected volunteers who underwent a selection process and are appointed on deputation. Capacity building programs are provided for all staff. The school is collaborating with ITIs for lesson plan development and bringing in professional experts for vocational training.
The school currently occupies 3.5 acres and houses an academic-administrative block, auditorium, and hostels. Plans are underway to expand to 14 acres within two years, adding a shooting range, swimming pool, and a multi-sports complex. The aim is to become Sikkim’s largest school.
The pilot project is expected to extend to one school per district in the future, though these plans are in early stages. Khatiwada addressed concerns about creating a divide in the government school system, stating that model schools act as incubators for best practices, strengthening the entire public education system.
Colonel Khatiwada, an army officer on deputation, leads the school. He has served in the army for over 25 years and finds the transition to education management positive, focusing on creating a conducive environment for learning and facilitating government support.