“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.
Total No. of Centres-2598
Total No. of Balvikas Gurus-1643
Total no. of Balvikas students -52120
(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
http://www.sssbalvikastn.org/
The formal mode of Education – Sri Sathya Sai Schools implemented through the 99 Sri Sathya Sai Schools spread out in different states of India.
Total no. of Sri Sathya Sai Schools in TN-11
Sri Sathya Sai Vidhya Jyothi Project
Sathya Sai Vidya Jyothi (SSSVJ) is an All India Program that aims to inspire children by empowering schools. The selected schools are government schools located in rural or backward areas where the children come from families with less means and lack the basics of modern education, nutrition and medical treatments.
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.