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Sri Atmananda Memorial School, administered by Atma Vidya Educational Foundation (AVEF), is an educational model for the Foundation's Teaching Approach, inspired by the great Sage Sri Adwayananda (Sri K. Padmanabha Menon), for whom the Approach is named. His idea about education acknowledges the fundamental dignity of the individual child. In the close relationship between teacher and child, the curriculum is introduced through the child’s interests, fulfilling his or her personal, social, and academic needs. The guiding principles of this kind of education are that children are natural learners who learn in an integrated way, with each child developing in his or her own way. Most importantly, a strong relationship with a teacher is the foundation for development. Outcomes of this kind of education include self-confidence, independent thinking, problem-solving skills, creativity, initiative, and ability in conflict resolution. [1]
About the School
Founded in 1987, now with an enrolment of 184 children on two campuses, kindergarten through twelfth standard, the School is non-sectarian and accommodates children from varied socio-economic and religious backgrounds. It is affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations[2] and also to the Clonlara School (USA)[3].
Visitors to the School, which is located in Malakara village near Chengannur, Kerala, India, remark on the joyous atmosphere and enthusiasm evident among the children and teachers.[4] In the Lower Primary Section (ages 5 through 8), the children are free to decide which activities to attend and how to organize their own day, according to their interests. By the Upper Primary Section (ages 8-11), the children tend toward group projects that require a longer attention span. Examinations are introduced in the UP in a fun way through an “Exam Fest” where everyone helps everyone else.[5] By the High School (ages 12-14) and Plus-Two (ages 15-17) Sections, the children prepare for the external board examinations in tenth (ICSE) and twelfth (ISC) standards or pursue the Clonlara diploma which assesses children on internal examinations, daily work, and a cumulative portfolio.[6]
The benefits of this way of learning can be seen in the school’s graduates, who have gone on to higher learning at distinguished institutions, including the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), the National Institute of Design (Bangalore), St. Stephen’s College (University of Delhi), and so forth, and on into the professional world at companies such as IBM, Tata Consultancy Services and Hewlett-Packard.[7] Alumni are pursuing careers as varied as those of engineer, lawyer, animator, ayurvedic doctor, speech therapist, accountant, ship captain and teacher. Because of their way of learning, the students are strong in interpersonal skills, problem-solving and decision-making, all of which are much in demand in the professional world.[4]
In following the principles of unconditionally valuing children, listening to them, helping them develop and giving regard to their thoughts and feelings, a deep love for the School develops among all who participate, and teachers along with students are improved.
School Milestones
- Inauguration of Sri Atmananda Memorial School by Sri Adwayananda (Sri K. Padmanabha Menon) (1987) [8]
- Described by Sir Bernard Ledwidge, Chairman of United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, as “the best school I have seen in all my career” (1991)[9]
- Authored teachers’ resource books of games and activities: Up and About! (1994)[10], Let’s Colour Our World (1995)[11], and Educational Board Games (1997)[12], all published by Orient Longman, Ltd.
- Invited to present the Teaching Approach to Mikhail Gorbachev’s State of the World Forum (USA), 1997, 1999, 2000[13]
- Received the KANFED 2000 Award for Best High School for Innovation[14]
- First graduating class (2001)
- Rated by The Week magazine as “one of the top ten innovative schools in India” (2003)[15]
- Rated one of the top three schools in South India by Vishukani magazine (published by Malayala Manorama) (2007)[4]
- Association of Indian Universities recognition of Clonlara diploma offered by Sri Atmananda Memorial School as equivalent to 2 stage qualification of an Indian board for admission to Indian universities (2008)
External Links
Notes and References
- ^ Tarla R. Nanavati, “Creating Real Change in Education” paper given at Association of ISC Schools Principals’ Conference, 1997; retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^ See Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
- ^ See Clonlara School
- ^ a b c Nisha Nair K. “They Learn Through Play and Play While They Learn,” Malayala Manorama Vishukani (April 2007), pp. 72-76. See also “I-School, My School” The Week (February 9, 2003), pp. 16-19. See also “It is Science all Around: Sri Atmananda Memorial School, Malakara” (May 2003), The National Science Magazine.
- ^ Farwa Imam Ali, Nistula Hebbar & Litta Jacob, “USP: Looking for That Spark” The Week (February 9, 2003).
- ^ Atma Vidya Educational Foundation [Brochure], Malakara, India, 2004.
- ^ Atma Vidya Educational Foundation, "The Team Shines," Perspective (January 2008). See also “Where are They Now?” Perspective (January 2007).
- ^ Sri O. C. Vincent, District Collector, Pathanamathitta District, speech given on occasion of inaugurationof Sri Atmananda Memorial School, Malakara (October 2, 1987); retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ Sir Bernard Ledwidge, KCMG, speech given November 8, 1991, at Sri Atmananda Memorial School, India; retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ Atma Vidya Educational Foundation, Up and About!: 20 Activities for Primary School, Hyderabad: Orient Longman Ltd., 1994.
- ^ Atma Vidya Educational Foundation, Let’s Colour Our World, Hyderabad: Orient Longman Ltd., 1995.
- ^ Atma Vidya Educational Foundation, Educational Board Games, Hyderabad: Orient Longman Ltd., 1997.
- ^ Mary Thomajan, “New Visions from Ancient Traditions" paper given at The State of the World Forum, San Francisco, 1997.
- ^ Kerala Association for Non-Formal Education and Development
- ^ “I-School, My School”, The Week (February 9, 2003), pp. 16-19.