Educational Wing
“Educare” Is True Education.
In Bhagawan’s own words- “Only if education is blended with culture will it shine forth as true education. What is culture? It is the cultivation of discrimination between good and evil, sin and merit, and truth and untruth that we experience in our daily life” – Divine Discoure 20 Nov 2001
Baba, the Universal Teacher introduced to the world the philosophy and concept of Educare. Bhagawan has always held that Education should be a means to translate these values in to action in day- to- day life for it is only when such practices are encouraged by parents at home and in our schools, can one ensure a happy home, a value based society, and orderly nation and a peaceful world.
The current education programme has its roots in the Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas programme which was started in 1969.
The Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas course is based on two principles – Existence of God & Divinity of Man. The classes are conducted to inculcate the five basic human values of truth, righteousness, peace, love and non violence in children. It is a secular programme inculcating in the tender minds of children, tolerance and respect for faiths and religions.
The Education programme is covered by the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation in India through –
The non formal mode by the Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas classes
(For children 5 to 13 years of age) held in residential homes and Samithi centers.
As on date there are 1643 gurus and 52120 students across 2598 bal vikas centers now in Tamil Nadu (source: annual report last year – kindly update)
The Tamil Nadu Balvikas Team has developed an exclusive website and an App for Balavikas serving in English, Tamil & Hindi. The team has come up with number of initiatives to generate interest in Balavikas activities and to encourage participation by Balvikas children and their parents. The stake holders are Gurus, Parents, students & members
The formal mode of Education – Sri Sathya Sai Schools implemented through the 99 Sri Sathya Sai Schools spread out in different states of India.
And there are 11 Sri Sathya Sai Schools in Tamil Nadu
Sri Sathya Sai Vidhya Jyothi Project
With Bhagawan’s abundant grace, Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Jyothi (SSSVJ) program was launched on the auspicious Aaradhana day Mahotsavam, on April 24th 2016.
Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Jyothi program aims to supplement and enhance the levels of motivation and learning experience of students of the schools adopted under the program, by leveraging and improving the eco system in which the schools operate. In addition to focusing on the holistic development of the children, the volunteers under the program across India work with the goal of instilling Human Values into the children and inspiring them to become ideal citizens of India through various seva activities.
Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Jyothi Project has been adopted in 96 schools in Tamil Nadu so far
The Programme has been successfully implemented in 96 Government schools across Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry . Through this project, more than 200 volunteers are involved from the rural sector and the urban sector.
Some of the notable activities under Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Jyothi program include,
- Teaching Bal Vikas
- Providing Parenting tips to parents
- Providing teaching aids
- Counseling to children and teachers
- Soft skill development for teachers
- Support to children having challenges in studies
- Promotion of arts and music
- Personality development classes for the children
- Creating opportunities for participation in competitions
- Training children with special abilities and
- Sports activities
- Providing infrastructure support to the schools by undertaking repairs to the classroom, painting, providing benches, constructing toilets, and drinking water facility etc.