Sathya Sai School, NSW, Inc.
Sathya Sai School in Murwillumbah
Ten years Presence in the Community.
Recently the Board of Directors met for the tenth annual general meeting and reviewed plans and progress for the expansion of the school. In the process, they reflected on the school's local presence and its contribution toward the transmission of values education in Australia as a model school.
Directors and Management of the Sathya Sai School NSW, Inc.
From left to right, Channa Seneviratne, (Financial Director), Roger
Packham, (Board Director) Bronwyn Gowing (School Principal), Dr. Pal Dhall,
(Board Chairman) Robert Molloy, (Chairman, Management Committee) Neville
Fredericks, (Board Deputy Chair) Cugan Cuganesan (Company Secretary). Absent,
Krishnan Nair (duty overseas).
Neville Fredericks, Deputy Chairman of Sathya Sai School NSW, Inc., reflected on the school's presence in Murwillumbah, the exciting vision of the future of Australia as a values-based community, and the Sai School vision of its nation building role.
The Sathya Sai School, located in Murwillumbah, a small community of 12,000 people, has positively impacted that community as a school renowned for its values. There is a thirst in society to embrace values. Value based education is also having a profound impact in other remote communities.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba blessed the Sai School, Murwillumbah, in November 2005 and with Sai's Grace, the school has continued to flourish and receive enrolments. Sai does not require publicity for His name, rather what is required is establishing value based education and promoting His teachings to the wider community.
Many have given their energy in service and resources in the development of the Sai School, Murwillumbah. The Sai School's vision is to deliver character development and excellence in academic performance . It will play a bigger role in the coming years in the implementation of Value based Education in Australia.
Mr. Bob Molloy, Chairman of the School Management Committee, explained that spirituality is not esoteric; it is very practical and that human values are the pathway to Divinity. Since the majority are ignorant of their inherent divinity, Swami's teachings remain hidden. The five human values need to be practised and the transformation that would take place is a gradual process. The Sai School needs to walk the general public towards these values. Hence the Sai School needs to function as a model school.
The expansion of the school to teach 160 to 170 pupils, and reaching optimum class numbers in the next two to three years, will pave the way for the school to be considered as a model school in incorporating value based education in the normal school curriculum. Further, approximately ten of our children currently join the secondary school in Murwillumbah each year, but in five years time 25% of the Secondary School's children will be from the Sai School, Murwillumbah. Links are being made now with the secondary school to monitor this change on the school and the children.
Dr Pal Dhall, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Sathya Sai School NSW, Inc. and the Director of Sai Institute of Education, inspired members, saying that education cannot be commoditised and must be a gift given freely from the heart. We must prepare children for flexibility of mind, hands-on empathy and interdependence with each other.
The ISSE provides the research, the EHV Model and teacher training, while the school prepares children for life in a global context.
Dr Pal Dhall traced the history of values based education in the Sai mission and the Value based Education is now becoming increasingly known in the world community; indeed the United Nations is now interested in this project. Governments are concerned about the future direction of the education of children, and value based Education will prepare children to face challenges.
Mrs Bronwyn Gowing, School Principal, explained that the staff’s task is to take the EHV model and inspire the school community with its practice in curriculum, lesson plans, policies and procedures, in a western culture.
The Directors expressed their gratitude to all who have assisted the school over the past ten years. All have been inspired by the love and teaching of our founder Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Deputy Chair of the Sathya Sai School NSW, Inc., Neville Fredericks, outlining the benefits of education in human values to the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard. Nowra, NSW, May, 2006.
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