Our Philosophy

Indian civilization and culture have long held the view that we really cannot teach anyone.  All knowledge is already inherent in the individual soul.  The student then must be the focus of learning, not the teacher or the curriculum.

With this in mind, the Saraswati Vidya Niketan has embarked on a philosophy of education that is concerned with the overall development of the student.

This project was envisioned by Swami Aksharananda of Guyana who is of the view that our education system, a legacy of our colonial past, is severely one-sided in that while it emphasizes Western and Judeo-Christian values, it de-emphasizes the role of the traditional Indian culture inherited by the Indian child.  In this post-colonial society still dominated by Christian values, Indian children grow up to be not only diffident but also ashamed of their cultural heritage.

This puts Indian children at a disadvantage and hampers their intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development.  Because of this imbalance in our educational system, the very task of national building is retarded as evidenced in so many areas of the society. The Saraswati Vidya Niketan seeks to remedy this imbalance with an appropriate cultural input in the school curriculum.

Many people both specialists and laymen, argue that our education system is in great crisis.  The recent exodus of teachers from Guyana is clear proof of this.

There is widespread indiscipline in schools with students absconding, and spending much of their school hours in pool halls and video arcades. There is a high level of alcohol consumption by teachers.

There is also the ever-looming danger of the predatory behaviour of bus drivers and conductors taking students to and from schools.  In and out of school, the student faces insurmountable challenges and difficulties. The once-high ideals and morals in our education are virtually facing collapse.

One of the features of Saraswati Vidya Niketan is its unique emphasis on discipline administered with care and compassion.

In a nutshell, Saraswati Vidya Niketan is a ‘different’ and ‘unique’ school.