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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2004/02/13/stories/2004021301720600.htm)

 

 

Moulding young minds with care

 

 

Wholesome development of the students' personality is what Sai institutions

strive for. Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare, at Nemilichery, in Chennai's

outskirts, is no exception, reports MALATHI RANGARAJAN.

 

 

EVEN AS you alight at the Chromepet Railway Station, Chennai, a local person

tells you the way to Sri Sathya Sai School in Nemilichery, a village about three

km from the station. (Ph: 22651726; email: sssmatsch). The

institution is slowly becoming a landmark in the area. And striving to make this

school that follows the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) system, an

institute of excellence is a whole team of dedicated staff, a dynamic

Correspondent and a diligent Principal. "Knowledge should not be a marketed

commodity. It's the duty of society to make it available to every individual.

Education has to be free at all levels and for everyone. If you can give it only

for a fee, there's no point in giving it at all, is what Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai

Baba believes. And we have reached that stage with Baba's blessings," says P.

Kumarasamy, Correspondent of the Sathya Sai School.

 

So like all other Sai institutions, the Nemilichery School that was till now

offering free education to students in stages, will extend total free education

from Class I, from the coming academic year. Also co-education will be only up

to the Class V level. From Class VI onwards only boys will be admitted,

Kumarasamy informs.

 

"I had wanted to work in this kind of school and with Baba's blessings it is a

reality," says A. Sathyanarayanan, the young Principal of Sri Sathya Sai

Institute of Educare. Sathyanarayanan, a former student of Sathya Sai Institute

of Higher Learning in Puttaparthy, had wanted to begin a school of his own on

the lines of the Sai System of Education. A chance meeting with Kumarasamy a few

years ago, led to his taking up the post of Principal in the kind of school he

had aspired to begin.

 

When it was first started in 1978 it was called Sri Sathya Sai Matriculation

School. But as Sai institutions place great importance on the development of the

body, mind and soul of the student, they transcend the level of being mere

transmitters of textbook knowledge. Hence the school rightly decided to rename

itself as Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare, from January this year.

 

As education in the Sai system cannot but be integral, besides the challenging

academic stream of the Central Board, the school also lays stress on the

indispensable aspects of personality development, such as yoga, meditation,

universal prayer, value education, confidence-building skills like public

speaking, art, craft, computers, dramatics, dance, music, sports, games, karate

and social work — all these with affection and reverence as the bottom line.

 

Those familiar with the pattern of education in Sai schools know that "the

medium is Discipline, and the first, second and third languages are Love,

Service and Sadhana".

 

Besides free, integral education, they repose strong faith in the gurukula

system. So they prefer residential education. (A reasonable amount is collected

for boarding and lodging) Hostel life teaches young minds to share, care and

adjust themselves to community living, the schools believe. "Moulding the

personality of a child is easier in a residential ambience," they say.

 

"The atmosphere in a school has to be congenial for us to realise our goals.

Our philosophical base helps us in that," says Sathyanarayanan as he narrates

the case of a 10-year old student. "When he first came here we were very

worried. He was a very headstrong lad and was always found quarrelling with

others. Today, he is one of the softest students around," smiles Sathyanarayanan

.. "The love and care that was missing in his home he has found here," he adds.

"Kathir (name changed) was another problem child. His initial resistance to

adjustment of any sort even made us feel that it would not be possible to have

him in the school for long. However soon the kindness and understanding that he

got here changed him. Now he does not wish to lose it at any cost. He is another

obedient child whom we are proud of. The CBSE pattern ensures a strong, common

standard. Our labs are well equipped and we have experienced persons with us

like Ramachandran, who was formerly with Padma Sesha!

dri Bala Bhavan School, who helps with our Maths lab and S. Gomathinathan,

retired special officer, ELT, offering expert advice. And every lesson, be it

Maths, Science or English, we feel, should teach the child a value. Balavikas

training and a Diploma certificate course in Moral Instruction are part of our

other activities ... Can you believe it, I just received a call from Bhopal

enquiring about admission for next year."

 

As Kumarasamy goes on you notice his fondness for the school and his affection

for the students. "Parents should realise that beating up their children will

lead nowhere. Only kindness and concern will help. Attaching undue importance to

academic progress alone could put too much pressure on the child. Sri Sathya Sai

Baba always says, `Remarks mean more than marks.' And that's what we believe

in," concludes Kumarasamy.

 

 

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