Lessons from Gita, yoga in UK's first Hindu school

Lessons from Gita, yoga in UK's first Hindu school
15 Sep, 2008, 1931 hrs IST, PTI


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Cosmic Uplink: Your spiritual corner
LONDON: Passages from Bhagvad Gita, yoga and teaching harmonium, 'mridanga' and tabla are some of the highlights of the curriculum of Britain's first state-funded Hindu school that opened here today.

Welcoming its first batch of 23 pupils, Naina Parmar, head-teacher of the Krishna Avanti Primary School, said: "We have happy pupils in the Reception class who will be taught the basics of Hindu culture and values."

"This is a huge step forward for Britain's 1.5 million Hindus," said Parmar
The first class in the Harrow-based school was taught by local teacher Sandra Clark.


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The school promises to merge the best of British education with Hindu religious and cultural values, Parmar said, and added that most of the pupils were from the borough of Harrow, which has the highest Hindu concentration in the UK.

Similar schools for other faiths have been functioning in Britain, but this is the first time that a Hindu school funded by the British government has been set up.

The government had approved the school in November 2005. The school project, implemented by the Hindu charity organisation I-Foundation, will cost 10 million pounds.

Parmar said: "We aim to create an effective, calm and happy learning environment where the vision and mission statements are 'lived' by combining the wisdom of Vedic teachings and exemplary professional practice".

Beginning with its first batch of 23 pupils, it hopes to gradually increase its intake every year. By 2014, it aims to provide places for 236 pupils.

The school's official faith advisor is ISKCON UK, which provides advice on integrating aspects of Hindu faith in the government approved school curriculum.