A mountain school and Wangchuk’s experiments with educational reforms
SECMOL, an educational organization in Ladakh founded by Sonam Wangchuk, focuses on experiential learning tailored to the region's unique geography and culture. The school aims to bridge the gap between traditional academic systems and the practical needs of students living in high-altitude environments.
Why it matters
It highlights the importance of localized, culturally relevant education systems in addressing regional development and social challenges.
If you have watched the film 3 Idiots , you may remember the school where Rancho was finally found. The school is SECMOL, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, founded by Sonam Wangchuk , who has been more famous as a climate activist than as an educationist.
SECMOL, nestled in the mountains of Phey village in the Indus Valley, about 18 km from Leh, is perhaps best known in popular culture as the campus associated with the film’s closing scenes. Most important, it lets us peek into a window of Mr. Wangchuk’s four-decade engagement with education, long before his hunger strike, supporting Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), brought him back into the spotlight.
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