THREE schools based on Hindu and Sikh philosophy will open their doors to pupils this week as part of the British government’s decision to allow parents and community groups to set up their own educational institutions.
The Krishna-Avanti Primary School in Leicester City will function in an “environment centred on loving service to Lord Krishna”. Its vision includes “nurturing character and conduct consistent with Hindu virtues,” as well as “a balanced vegetarian diet and opportunities to practise yoga and meditation”.
It opens on Thursday (September 1) and there is a sense of excitement among some in the community that a free state Hindu school is opening for the first time.
Head teacher Pradip Gajjar said: “We have got a great reaction from all sections of the communities. This is the first state-funded Hindu school in Leicester; Hindus in particular are very excited – others are also very excited.
“We are receiving offers from the state and other faith schools to partner and work closely with them. At the end of the day, there is a great demand from the community and people are looking forward to the development of the school in terms of the curriculum and infrastructure.”
The Maharishi school in Lancashire, which was founded by the Beatles’ guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and teaches children to meditate, has also become a state school under the government’s free school policy.
Taking inspiration from the Sikh ethos, the Nishkam Primary School in Birmingham will “be driven and sustained by the principle of being Nishkam (selfless).”
Ideal education, the school’s website says, “not only prepares for work and life in society, but supports spiritual growth”.
Other schools that are part of the first wave of 24 free schools include Jewish faith schools, and those with a Christian ethos.
The government has declined to reveal the costs of funding individual free schools, the most prominent part of the Tories’ “big society” vision, but estimates the overall budget for buildings at between £110m and £130m.
Critics say the schools are more of a “political agenda” and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Legislation to enable the creation of free schools was pushed through parliament last summer under procedures usually reserved for counter-terrorism measures.
However, critics point out that in many cases, faith organisations, education companies or existing academy sponsors have taken the lead rather than groups of parents or teachers.
