Sathya Sai Education in Fiji
The Sathya Sai International Organization (SSIO) of Fiji is committed to serve Sathya Sai Education through the Sathya Sai School and Institute of Sathya Sai Education (ISSE).
SATHYA SAI SCHOOL
In 1998 the Central Council of the SSIO Fiji decided to establish a Sathya Sai Primary School in the country, to become a model for the teaching of human values. The SSIO Fiji succeeded in obtaining the necessary approval from the Ministry of Education after it was agreed between the parties that this was going to be a model school for teaching of human values and that it will be registered as a “private” school. The approval was not only for operating a primary school but also a kindergarten and a secondary school.
Swami blessed the school project and the building plans.
The first phase of development included constructing six classrooms, an office, an ablution block, a head teacher’s quarters and a borehole. The Bhumi pooja (ground-breaking) and the foundation laying ceremony were held on 15th August 1999.
SATHYA SAI SCHOOL
In 1998 the Central Council of the SSIO Fiji decided to establish a Sathya Sai Primary School in the country, to become a model for the teaching of human values. The SSIO Fiji succeeded in obtaining the necessary approval from the Ministry of Education after it was agreed between the parties that this was going to be a model school for teaching of human values and that it will be registered as a “private” school. The approval was not only for operating a primary school but also a kindergarten and a secondary school.
Swami blessed the school project and the building plans.
The first phase of development included constructing six classrooms, an office, an ablution block, a head teacher’s quarters and a borehole. The Bhumi pooja (ground-breaking) and the foundation laying ceremony were held on 15th August 1999.
Before
|
After
|
In the year 2000, the first batch of 25 pupils began classes in kindergarten and grade 1. Two teachers who were sent to Thailand took charge of the classes. A new class was progressively added every year. We now have classes from kindergarten to grade 8. The school has 10 teaching staff, an Office Assistant and a caretaker employed at the school.
The school roll currently stands at 130. About 60% of the pupils are i-Taukei while the rest are Indo-Fijians. All the i-Taukei children are Christians while Indo-Fijians are Hindus. One child comes from the Islamic faith. The SSIO and the Sathya Sai School are very well accepted and respected in the community.
The second phase of development included building a separate kindergarten building. Then four additional classrooms were built in 2006 followed by six two-bedroom accommodation block in 2010.
The school roll currently stands at 130. About 60% of the pupils are i-Taukei while the rest are Indo-Fijians. All the i-Taukei children are Christians while Indo-Fijians are Hindus. One child comes from the Islamic faith. The SSIO and the Sathya Sai School are very well accepted and respected in the community.
The second phase of development included building a separate kindergarten building. Then four additional classrooms were built in 2006 followed by six two-bedroom accommodation block in 2010.
?Groundbreaking ceremony by Dr. Narendranath Reddy, Chairman SSIO
Academic Performance
The school has now been in existence for twenty years. Children attending this model school are largely from the low socio-economic background. The school has mounted a series of outreach programs in the community to raise awareness about the importance of education and parental responsibilities. This is gradually improving the academic performance of the students which are reflected in the results of the external examinations.
Accreditation
The Education Committee, SSIO issued a certificate of accreditation to the school in 2018 following a comprehensive review of all aspects of the school.
Environment and 3Rs Program
In order to reduce carbon footprint, the school installed twenty solar panels for generating electricity. They have an output of 5kV which is sufficient to meet the energy requirements of the school. Furthermore, the school has installed two 5000-liter water tanks to harvest rainwater. The school is also part of the 3R program (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) where plastic bottles are collected for recycling and other organic waste composted for use in the vegetable and flower gardens.
Cultural and Spiritual Program
The school celebrates every festival from the three major religions found in the country and educates the pupils about their inner significance and the human values they teach. Easter, Diwali, Shivratri, Swami’s Birthday, Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday and Ram Navami are celebrated with parent participation. Teachers familiarize students about human rights, child labour and International Day Against Drug and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT).
Extra-Curricular Activities
Children participate in soccer, basketball, scouting, girl guides, athletics and other sporting programs. Gardening involving growing of vegetables, trees and flowers is another outside classroom activity in which children participate.
From article submitted to Sanathana Sarathi about Sathya Sai Education in Fiji, authored by Prof. Narendra Reddy and others from Fiji.
The school has now been in existence for twenty years. Children attending this model school are largely from the low socio-economic background. The school has mounted a series of outreach programs in the community to raise awareness about the importance of education and parental responsibilities. This is gradually improving the academic performance of the students which are reflected in the results of the external examinations.
Accreditation
The Education Committee, SSIO issued a certificate of accreditation to the school in 2018 following a comprehensive review of all aspects of the school.
Environment and 3Rs Program
In order to reduce carbon footprint, the school installed twenty solar panels for generating electricity. They have an output of 5kV which is sufficient to meet the energy requirements of the school. Furthermore, the school has installed two 5000-liter water tanks to harvest rainwater. The school is also part of the 3R program (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) where plastic bottles are collected for recycling and other organic waste composted for use in the vegetable and flower gardens.
Cultural and Spiritual Program
The school celebrates every festival from the three major religions found in the country and educates the pupils about their inner significance and the human values they teach. Easter, Diwali, Shivratri, Swami’s Birthday, Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday and Ram Navami are celebrated with parent participation. Teachers familiarize students about human rights, child labour and International Day Against Drug and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT).
Extra-Curricular Activities
Children participate in soccer, basketball, scouting, girl guides, athletics and other sporting programs. Gardening involving growing of vegetables, trees and flowers is another outside classroom activity in which children participate.
From article submitted to Sanathana Sarathi about Sathya Sai Education in Fiji, authored by Prof. Narendra Reddy and others from Fiji.