Sathyasai Sisuvikas Project of Madhuvan Sai Vidyashram Trust, Puliyarakonam, Trivandrum aims at imparting FREE education at the Pre School level initially and free continuing education at the Secondary School level. The selection to the English Montessori Pre School named Sisuvikas Bhavan is made on the basis of prescribed criteria and admission to the ICSE school run by the trust is made on the basis of skill, attitude and aptitude of the children. The students selected for continuation of education is given all expenses for academics, food, uniform, transportation, study materials such as text and note books. They study along with other students in the school without any discrimination, and avail the state-of-the art schooling in ICSE syllabus integrated with IB patterns.

History of Sathya Sai Sisuvikas Bhavan

Sisuvikas Bhavan, the Centre for Development of rural children was the first project started in Madhuvanam for Rural Development. This centre was inaugurated in February 2000 by Tamil poet Sri Neela Padmanabhan. Since the formation of Madhuvan Sai Vidyashram Trust, a trust exclusively for educational programmes, the Sisuvikas Bhavan is run by the trust. Madhuvan Sai Vidyashram Trust is an independent trust and is not receiving any financial assistance from Sathya Sai Central Trust in Puttapparthy.

The Cause for starting

The State Government runs centres called ANGANAWADIS in villages under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). The trust earmarked areas which are not covered by such centres. These backward areas needed patronage for child development. The opening of Sisuvikas Bhavan at Madhuvan was an answer to this problem initially.

As a Multi Grade Learning Centre upto 2007-08

Until 2007-08,the methodology followed at Sisuvikas was that of an MGLC, the Multi Grade Learning Centre. This is the system followed at all Government run ANGANAWADIs. Children belonging to 2½ - 5½ years age group were admitted. The medium of instruction was their mother tongue Malayalam. The Syllabus was adopted from the scheme prescribed for Govt. Sponsored Anganawadi Child centres.

Now as a Montessori Kindergarten

From the academic year 2008-09,the curriculum has been radically reintegrated by Madhuvan Sai Vidyashram Trust. The scheme of the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme of Govt of India) was found inadequate for the following reasons:-

1. A Govt. sponsored "Anganawadi" child centre had started in the year 2007-08 which duplicated the work which the Sisuvikas was doing. Since the trust's policy was not to duplicate any Governmental initiative but to complement, the scope for the current programme was lost.

2.The medium of instruction was only Malayalam. In fact the poor parents resorted to private tuition etc to provide the children with English education.The local convent schools necessitated this and the poor parents had no other way than to teach them English paying fees.

3. The quality of English education they derived from such tuition was low. The need for providing better education was felt.

4.Since the admission was not restricted to poor children only, many well-to-do parents found the Sisuvikas just as a day care to keep their children when there are no tuition classes.The Trust took this matter very seriously.

New Syllabus

Now the Sisuvikas follows the ICSE syllabus. English primers from Oxford University Press are introduced for study.Malayalam and Hindi will also be taught.

Restriction on Admissions

The admission has been restricted to 15 students coming from deserving families. The applications received in response to the publicity given among villagers about the school, will be scrutinised and a team shall visit their house to verify the need of our help. The following students are given preference:-

a. Children of widows.

b. Children of abandoned wives.

c. Children in the care of grand parents, where parents are in remote places for livelihood

d. Children of parents who spend most of their income for treatment of elders in the family.

e. Children of parents who do not hold landed property more than 10 cents in the rural area.

It is also to be seen that parents are free from alcoholic and narcotic indulgence.

Academics

The Sisuvikas Bhavan follows other kindergarten schools of Madhuvan Sai Vidyashram Trust in toto. The syllabus prescribed by ICSE is taught integrated with Montessori methodology. The prescribed texts books and other study materials are supplied free of cost to students. The uniform is also provided by the Sisuvikas Bhavan free of cost.

Physical Development and medicare

The Montessori aides are best suited for the development of cognizance in children. Apart from this children are provided with facilities for playful learning. Medical check ups are conducted by the doctors at the free Rural health centre at Madhuvan and follow up care is also given.

Food for body and mind

A balanced diet is given to students everyday, consisting of porridge with mix of cereals and oil seeds, rich in proteins and carbohydrates, south Indian meals, and milk.

House visits by volunteers

Frequent visits are made to the houses of the children to ensure the conditions of their growing up and necessary steps are taken to correct anomalies.

Mothers Meet

Monthly mothers’ meet is organised to impart education on hygiene, nutrition, kitchen gardening, handicrafts, cottage industries etc.

Balamela competitions

Every year sports and cultural competitions are conducted for both the children and their mothers. The right milieu is provided for the growth of painters and musicians from among the ignored sections of the society.

Excursions

Every year children are taken out for visiting Trivandrum zoo and provided merriment in changed atmosphere with pleasantries and icecreams.

Continuation of studies

Children with merit are admitted into Grade I of Madhuvan Sai Vidyashram School (ICSE) depending upon the sponsorship possibilities. Once admitted into school, they are provided wth all amenities for their education upto Grade X free of cost.

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