Beyond books and syllabi

Several alternative schools offer innovative methods of education, and  appraisal systems where the traditional exam is underplayed or absent:

 

Tridha (Mumbai) is based on the principles of Waldorf Steiner, an education system that balances academic, artistic and practical activities. The emphasis is on overall development of the child, with a flexible curriculum where art and music are considered as important as reading, writing and arithmetic. Classes are currently conducted from nursery and kindergarten to class VI.

 

Sloka (Hyderabad), affiliated to the ICSE board, was established by the Education Renaissance Trust, a non-profit organisation, to provide an alternative education programme. The school addresses the needs of students who have difficulties with reading, writing and maths, and those who suffer from lack of coordination or concentration. Textbooks are not used to teach these students.

 

Rishi Valley (Andhra Pradesh), established by the J Krishnamurti Foundation, it follows the philosophy of exploring alternative visions of life while imparting a regular education. The curriculum of its junior- and middle-level school is flexible, and it eschews examinations. Students are involved in projects such as biodiversity conservation and watershed management. Some of the other schools run by the foundation are Rajghat Besant School (Varanasi), The School (Chennai), The Valley School (Bangalore) and Sahyadri (Pune).

 

Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education (Pondicherry) has classes ranging from kindergarten to college level. The philosophy of the school is to provide an integral education by encouraging the development of mind, life, body, soul and spirit. The method of teaching is a combination of instruction by the teacher and a “free progress system” in which the student can pursue his own course of study.

 

— Compiled by Swati Pujari