As parents, one of the most important decisions they can make is choosing the right school for their children. In today’s competitive and fast-changing world, education is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Many parents in Ladakh often ask me, “Which is the best school for my child? Or Suggest me a good school for them in Ladakh” But this question is not just about finding a school, it’s about shaping a child’s future. A school is not only a place for academic learning only; it’s where the foundation of a child’s personality, habits and dreams is built. Children’s minds are like soft clay – whatever we expose them to, they absorb and adapt quickly. The environment they live matters deeply.
Are toppers born or are they made?

From my 18 years of experience in education, studying alongside with different students from various backgrounds, I’ve come to a strong observation, no child is born a genius. What makes the difference is the environment they grow up in.

Let me explain with a simple example. Imagine two children did their admission on same day, one did admission and studying in a remote village school in Ladakh and the other in a city school with better infrastructure, teachers and activities. Both children start school on the same day in LKG. The village school might teach “A for Apple” and then end the lesson and he may learn other village work. But the city school may go further: “A for Apple, Axe and Aeroplane” with visual aids, interactive activities and more. So, on the first of day there is some difference and learning.

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By the end of the first day, the child in the city school has already learned more. Now imagine this difference building up every day over a year. When you test both children, the city school student is likely to perform better, not because of higher intelligence, but because of greater exposure and better resources.

This example shows how schools with better environments can help students grow faster and deeper, even when both children are equally willing to learn.
Recently JEE main & advanced (AIR 2 Category Rank) topper from Ladakh, Mr. Tsewang Namgyal mentioned about environment and parents role and guidance, as he is first one who achieved such high percentage & milestone from Ladakh. But his schooling and everything done in Banglore..
My question is, if he studied in Ladakh, Will he able to achieved such rank??
JUST ASKING….

Talent, hard work and dedication are in Ladakhi student students but do they getting environment where they can trained for such national level challenges………

The Role of Parents and Teachers in Shaping a Child’s Mind.
A child’s growth is deeply influenced by the words and actions of parents and teachers. Let me share something I’ve observed over the years, explained through a simple example.
Imagine a child who falls while walking and starts crying. Now, if the parent says, “You’re brave! Only loser are cry like that, Champions don’t cry,” the child feels encouraged and immediately stops crying. This is how the human mind works, especially in children. Their thoughts and beliefs are shaped by what they hear and how others respond to them.

Now take a classroom example. A student does well in a test, and the teacher says, “You’re brilliant! You’re a genius!” Another student doesn’t do well and hears, “You’re weak.” Maybe that student just wasn’t prepared that day or forgot something, but the label sticks.
From just the first few days of school, children start to form different beliefs about themselves. The one who was praised starts chasing that praise again and again. It becomes a habit. Over time, it becomes part of their identity, they begin to believe, “I must always be at the top.”

This is the impact of words. One sentence from a parent or teacher can build confidence or break it. That’s why the role of parents and teachers is so powerful in shaping how a child thinks, grows and succeeds in life.

Exposure Creates Aspirations
Have you ever wondered why most students in Ladakh want to become doctors, engineers, soldiers or teachers? Why not top scientists, businesspeople or any other? You go to school in Ladakh and ask this question to small kids. You will get these answers like doctors, engineers, etc.
The answer is simple: exposure.
You cannot dream of becoming something you’ve never seen or heard about. If a child never sees a successful entrepreneur or scientist, how will they ever imagine themselves becoming one?
Dreams are born from exposure. Let me explain this through example. Let me explain this with a simple example. Suppose you and your child go to the market for shopping, and you ask your child, “What would you like to buy?” The child will ask for something they see in that shop. They will not ask for anything that isn’t visible to them, even if such things exist.

For instance, if your child wants a cap, they will choose from the caps they can see in the shop. They won’t ask for a different or better cap that exists somewhere else in the world, simply because they’ve never seen it. But once they do see a new or better cap, they may say, “I want that one!”
This same logic applies to students and their dreams. Children cannot aspire to a profession they have never seen or heard about. They naturally dream about careers they have been exposed to as kids, like teachers, doctors, soldiers, or engineers, because those are the professions they see around them in Ladakh.

That’s why exposure matters. A school that offers good exposure through expert talks, career guidance sessions and real-life examples plays a big role in shaping a child’s ambitions. Schools that open children’s eyes to the wider world can help them dream bigger and more meaningfully.
That’s why schools need to organize career talks, invite professionals from different fields, and take students on exposure tours. These experiences spark dreams and broaden students’ understanding of the world.

The Need for Ranking Schools in Ladakh
Given all this, how do parents choose the right school? Without any clear information, it becomes a guessing game. That’s why I strongly believe that we need a school ranking system in Ladakh.
A yearly ranking based on clear, expert-driven criteria will:
• Help parents make better decisions.
• Encourage schools to improve.
• Create healthy competition.
• And most importantly, benefit students.
Some suggested criteria for ranking could be:
• Academic results.
• Infrastructure and facilities.
• Qualification of teachers.
• Co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
• Career guidance and student exposure.
• Success stories of alumni.
When schools know they are being measured, they are motivated to do better. And when progress is linked with incentives and recognition, the entire system becomes student-centric.

In Conclusion
Schools play a crucial role in shaping a child’s journey. They are not just places for exams and textbooks-they are launchpads for dreams. Every child in Ladakh deserves the opportunity to study in a school that offers them the best environment to grow.

So, let’s start this conversation. Let’s set standards. Let’s push for a school ranking system that promotes quality, equality and opportunity. If implemented with the right intent, it can transform the future of education in Ladakh. The goal of this writing is to bring this important issue into public attention. It is essential that people discuss it and take necessary steps. After all, every child’s career is important, it shapes their future and their life.
Ya jullay

About Writer:
Tsering Gaphel is pursuing his Masters of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology
Delhi. He is also on the Board of Directors of Ladakh Science Foundation and Chair at
Lamstan.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Voice of Ladakh or its editorial team.