Parichaya
Thought seeds...
Akshara in Samskrtm means “that which is imperishable or in-destructible” . In Kannada, Akshara generally means alphabets and Manèy means a house. In essence Akshara Manèy signifies the imperishable place for learning.
We, the founders have always been deeply interested in learning and exploring the spiritual path in our personal lives. The effect of such a thought process, integrity towards our work and life style has created this unique Educational Space;
-
a place for self study, self awareness, inquiry, creativity
-
a possibility to survive in the pre-conditioned society without being bound by its conformities and authority
-
to bring about an integral approach with equal opportunities for children belonging to a mixed economic strata
-
to build on a child's fundamental skills
-
a well thought out integrated curricula by bridging the academic - technical knowledge along with self - awareness or inner journey as a basis of our approach
Purpose...
Many years into our careers and also after becoming parents ourselves we asked ourselves …
Is there any relation between -
-
Purpose of exam : marks : jobs
-
Qualification : Present state of mind?
-
Have we digressed from the real learning and purpose of education?
-
What is it that brings about a 360 degree growth of an individual?
Introspection...
-
Respecting ourselves instead of comparing ourselves to others
-
Striving for excellence without sacrificing collaboration and cooperation
-
Prioritizing our sense of security over our fears and anxieties
-
Encouraging self-motivated learning over relying on external rewards or punishments
-
Understanding our own unique talents and capacities and using them proactively, rather than being held back by societal expectations and pressures
-
Engaging in hands-on, experiential learning activities rather than rote memorization
-
Focusing on learning and growth rather than just getting high marks
-
Valuing freedom, space, and responsibility over blindly following authority or feeling guilty for making mistakes
-
Engaging in projects that teach practical skills rather than outsourcing or relying solely on theoretical knowledge
-
Learning by doing and experiencing things firsthand rather than just complaining about problems from a distance
-
Using language as a means of communication and broadening our perspectives, rather than being limited by narrow sectarian views
-
Studying in order to learn and apply knowledge, rather than just focusing on getting good grades or winning the rat race
-
Approaching challenges with courage and determination rather than just following the well-trodden path.
The trodden path....
Usually schools in our country from the past 80-90 years are places with a huge number of children in one particular class or grade with the overall number of the school. They are all subject oriented teaching methodology with less importance to the individual child's learning. These schools are affiliated to boards like ICSE, CBSE, IB, IGCSE, etc. They are bound to limit exploration of subjects, and the institution or the teacher cannot do much justice to all children.
Our current education system has its drawbacks due to the dominance of competitiveness, authority, conformity, and comparison. We therefore think it necessary to approach education in an unprecedented "out-of-the-box unique education" manner.
Having analysed the pitfalls of the current educational setup, we have formulated an approach that is more child-friendly, experiential, communicative and interactive, with projects and activities at its core.
We are all moulded by our prior learning environment and social structures. To move forward, we put a concerted effort into looking at these issues together, engaging in open discussions that help us adjust to the new environment as situations demand.
It is our aim to make learning an enjoyable activity rather than one that must be merely memorised for marks; both knowledge acquisition and skill application are essential elements of this approach. Evaluation meanwhile is a continuous process for both children and facilitators alike as they go on their inner journeys.
The path
less explored...
.png)
OUR STORY
the inception of Akshara Manèy
It began in 2007 when our first daughter was born and people were suggesting schools to a newborn!
We set out with the intention of contributing to the understanding and filling of gaps in the current system of education, inspired especially by J. Krishnamurti's teachings. We knew it wouldn't be easy, but our enthusiasm and dedication to pursuing a "right education" kept us going in spite of any disappointments and disillusionments. Our work is further guided by our own childhood experiences and explorations. Both of us bring extensive background in spirituality, music, working with NGOs to set up skill-based schools in over 150 rural villages in Karnataka, providing skill training to school and college dropouts, receiving highest achievement awards in Scouts & Guides, working at a reputed J.Krishnamurti foundation school and other activities related to education.
We sowed the seeds of Akshara Manèy in the year 2016 in pursuit of 'right education', today we are more mature as parents, educators and as an organisation, rich with a variety of explorations and experiences working with the soil, engaging with children and also braving the lockdowns!
Our growth trajectory is an evolving, striving, diverse, self-sustaining and holistic in nature.
You're welcome to join our explorative journey of childhood, transformations & revelations!
