Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Delhi Branch) conducted a 7-day workshop on Integral Education and National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) for 10 rural schools from underprivileged regions of India. A total of 35 teachers – Telengana 4, WestBengal 6, Rajasthan 5, Uttarakhand 4, Aurnachal Pradesh 4, Odisha 8, and Chandigarh 4 – attended the workshop from October 21-27, 2023. The workshop consisted of multiple sessions on chanting, yogasana, shramadaan, sports and games, rhymes & songs, and meditation. The participants were introduced to Integral Education philosophy in its various facets and garnered conceptual knowledge through activity-based learning.

A comparative study of Integral Education and NEP also formed an integral part of the workshop. Extended experiential learning on teaching of Hindi and Mathematics was carried out. Participants were given a project, Human Body, to work upon. All activities were linked to the vision and goal of National Education Policy and with the philosophy of Integral Education. Every evening, reflective sessions were conducted to dive deep within to connect with the inner/psychic consciousness. Towards the culmination of the workshop, the group had a sightseeing tour of Red Fort, Parliament of India and Akshardham temple. At their request, participants were also able to visit Sri Smriti – a collection of the Memorabilia of the Mother on display – and the ongoing Art Exhibitions on the Ashram campus.

Resource persons included:

• Baren Raul – Integral Education, Project work and Games
• Minati Pradhan – Chanting and Shlokas
• Rasmita Pradhan – Integral Education, Songs & Rhymes, Reflection and Project work
• Srinath Maharana – Logical Mental education, Sense development and Mathematics
• Chandan Singh – Experiential teaching of Hindi language
• Fakira Rana – Shramadaan and Games
• Priya Gupta – Yogasanas

Organizers gratefully acknowledge financial support from New Creation International of Creve Coeur, Missouri, USA, and from India Development and Relief Fund of North Bethesda, Maryland, USA, which made the accomplishment of this program possible.