The school was started by SBMA 25 years ago. At that time there was not schools in the area for dozens of miles and it was a pressing demand of the communities to have a school for their children. By 2003, the area had more that a dozen schools; so SBMA wanted to close down the Environmental school or to change it in to a place of real, meaningful learning. The funding for the school stopped in June 2004 and that is when the new education initiative started in the Environment school. After 3 years the school has already established herself as a place of real learning. The school had 75 children from KG to 7th grades. By July 2007 there was 8th grade as well, and there were 10 teachers. We often have mixed classes and small groups where children teach other children.

As of 2011 we have 6 full time teachers and over 100 students from KG to 8th grade, as well as 3 students continuing their independent study (currently in the 10th grade) through the The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Syllabus:
Although we have different kinds of text books we treat them as reference material. Teachers plan their lessons and children come up with a variety of questions – these generate the real syllabus which is never is fixed. We make sure, however , that the children are ready for the Govt. board exams.

Exams:
We don’t give grades or marks. Instead we write a detailed evaluation report for each child touching on the character creativity and rational skills of the child.

Whole-brain approach:
We try to address the entire person of the child. The logic and the creative sides are integrated. The body and the senses are not ignored in the learning process and the child is guided to be aware of his/her own mind with all the thoughts, images and emotions that move through out .

Meditation:
Children are helped to explore not only the external world but also the internal world. Self-awareness helps them to gain a better balance between body and mind and to contract the infinite source of intelligence within.

Music:
We create our own songs. Music for us is a way of exploring our worlds-inner and outer – through feeling –inner and nurtures social awareness leading to a deep community bonding.

Children’s Government:
Children form 6 families. Each family has children from all the grades and governs for one week day. The family lays the assembly, washes the toilets, settles disputes, fetches drinking water and so on.

Quest for Meaning:
Learning for us is a quest for meaning. It is this quest that inspires children ( and teachers ) to look for facts and information that lead to meaning.

Income Generation:
The school plans to become self-sufficient within the next five years. The teachers and the children have already started generating funds through trainings. We now want to go into production of hand made greeting cards, bakery products, herbal medicine and handicrafts. We have also started working on the production of books and song CDs for sale.

Sustainability: This is a big question right now. The school has no funds at all. The teachers get free food and accommodation but there is no salary. Most of the children come from economically poor families; they can’t pay fees. Moreover lots of children need to be provided with clothes and food. The school needs more seating spaces as the classes go up. We also need some computers, a laboratory and an assembly hall for Yoga and cultural programes. The following is the budget for the next three years.