Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul: Imparting modern, traditional, and spiritual education

`What kind of education do most schools offer today? Modern education. It helps our children learn about the latest advancements and trends, and ensures that they are on par with the world. Learning about the present scenarios and a little about our history sounds like an excellent idea but is that enough? Definitely not. Vidya or education, to be wholesome, cannot just comprise of modern education. It needs to be a fusion of traditional, spiritual, and modern education. This is what Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul International School (SGIS) stands for, making it one of the best CBSE schools in Hyderabad today. India is a land of culture, heritage, traditions, and a vast number of religions. Imparting knowledge about each of these aspects in our children is crucial for them to not just be in the race called life but also to sprint past the rest. Our country exemplifies unity in diversity, and it is up to us to ensure that our culture and traditions are preserved. Back in the day, education included this but these days, we only have a few schools that are taking the torch forward. Shashtriji Maharaj Shri Dharmajivandasji Swami established Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul in 1948. Today, there are more than 30 branches in the country and abroad, one of them located in Hyderabad. Gurukul is not a co-educational school. Admissions are invited only for boys.

A 35-acre sprawling campus!

Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Hyderabad is an architectural marvel spread across 35 acres in Moinabad. The campus gives children an environment of serenity and motivation.

CBSE Curriculum from grades I to XII

SGIS is a CBSE school offering hostel facility for grades XI and XII. From grades I to X, it is a regular day school. The school integrates activity-based learning with the curriculum to help children grasp concepts better. The school is also affiliated to SSC, BIE, ICSE, IGCSE, and PUC boards, offering children a host of options to explore.

Fee Structure

The fee structure for day scholars is Rs.70,000 per annum whereas the fee structure for boarding is Rs.1,88,000.

Monumental infrastructure and facilities

The infrastructure of a school plays a crucial role in aiding education. SGIS is an example of great infrastructure and technologically sound facilities for education and physical & mental development.

Classrooms

All classrooms in SGIS are smart and digitized with projectors, CDs, and a large amount of digital content. Ventilated and spacious, each classroom only consists of 35 students.

Laboratories

In addition to science laboratories, the school also has math, English, and 3 computer labs. Each of these is equipped with all the equipment recommended by CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, SSC, and BIE boards.

Library

The library is expansive with many titles, both modern and traditional, for children to read and expand their horizons. The magazines, books, and journals cater to the students and teachers alike.

Audio-visual halls

Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul has 4 AV halls with multiple CDs. Studying textbook concepts on the projector after learning them in the classroom is a regular practice at this school.

Co-curricular activities

Music, dance, and pyramids are three main activities taught at Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul. All of them are aimed at keeping our traditions and culture alive. The Premanand Swar Mandir is the music room at the school. It is furnished with a plethora of musical instruments from harmonium to drums. Classical and folk dances are also taught in the school while western dance is discouraged. Furthermore, keeping our age-old tradition of Lord Krishna stealing maakhan alive, children learn how to form human pyramids as tall as 25 feet. Gymnastics and yoga are a couple of the other activities at Gurukul.

Sports and physical fitness

From athletics, outdoor games, & indoor games to physical fitness, the school offers numerous options to its students. It is fully-equipped with staff and equipment so that they play any sport of their liking.

Dining

Vishwabharam (the purest dining area) is where the children consume meals every day. The chefs are brahmins and cook nutritious, vegetarian food using fresh vegetables from the school’s farm. All the milk items come from the Gaushala in the campus, which has 125 cows at the moment. The school also runs a bakery that provides pizzas, burgers, etc.

Hostel life

The residence in SGIS has a capacity of 900 students. The hostel is a 3-storey building with 36 dormitories. A solar heater and mineral water plant are also present in the campus itself. During their stay in SGIS, children learn ethics, spirituality, and lead a disciplined life.

Academics and the different types of education at SGIS

Making the aim of developing character and virtue in young children a reality, SGIS gives equal focus to academics, spirituality, and traditional learning.

Vidya – Modern education

As aforementioned, the school predominantly offers CBSE curriculum but also has affiliations from a number of other national and state boards. Lessons are delivered in English, and learning languages is optional. However, each child must learn an additional international language, a national language, and a regional language until grade VII. Discipline, human values, etiquette, appreciation of all beings around us, and understanding the power of prayer are a part of the learnings at Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul.

• Competitive coaching is offered to children who aim to appear for competitive exams such as AIIMS, IIT-JEE, AIEEE, and EAMCET.
• NRIs and foreign students who are unable to grasp English and Hindi languages can attend special language classes that the school conducts regularly.
• SGIS also conducts remedial classes for children who face difficulty coping with the curriculum and are moving at a slow pace.

Sadvidya – Traditional education

Sadvidya inculcates respect, discipline, and integrity in children. Children learn the importance of respect for parents & teachers, morality, brotherhood, culture through various activities & exhibitions, and more. The school also celebrates every Indian festival with splendor.

Brahmvidya – Spiritual education

Spiritual assembly, prayers & pooja, and value meetings teach children moral and spiritual values. Indeed, Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul focuses on the overall development of the body and the mind!