'Rancho's school' of 3 Idiots school receives CBSE affiliation after 24 years

After waiting for years, Druk Padma Karpo School -- popularly known as Rancho's school of 3 Idiots -- has finally secured CBSE affiliation, over two decades after it was established in the Ladakh cold desert.

Renowned for its innovative approach to teaching well before the National Education Policy (NEP) forced them to implement change, the school was until recently associated with the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKBOSE). 

Despite the fact that the school boasted of good infrastructure, sound student outcomes, and a progressive way of learning, it was unable to obtain the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from JKBOSE for several years.

Principal Mingur Angmo opined that they had been attempting even prior to Ladakh becoming a Union Territory. With the CBSE now joining hands, the first batch of Class 10 students is waiting for their CBSE board exam results.

The school is also going to extend up to Class 12 by 2028, preparing teachers to transition smoothly into the CBSE curriculum. Angmo added, "Our mode of teaching used to be other than traditional class teaching and now with the CBSE also revising its pedagogy in light of the NEP, it will become easy for us to merge the two."

All thanks to 3 Idiots, Druk Padma Karpo became a destination for travelers. The popular 'Rancho's Wall' -- where the movie's comical electric shock scene was shot -- still exists, even though it was shifted in 2018 to ensure students stay concentrated.

Travelers are invited to observe school activity from time to time, such as recent mock elections conducted to educate students about democracy.

The school's CBSE recognition is not just a win for Druk Padma Karpo but also a big step for education in Ladakh. Several schools still remain tied to the J&K board, though talks of a separate territorial board for Ladakh are ongoing.

For now, CBSE affiliation means easier higher education transitions for students in India and abroad, blending Ladakh's traditional ways with modern learning paths.