Established September 2003 in Trinidad
Chinmaya Education Movement
The Chinmaya Education Movement is one of Chinmaya Mission’s most valuable contributions to society. From its humble beginnings in 1967 at a nursery school in Kollengode, Kerala (India), the Movement today encompasses over 76 Chinmaya Vidyalayas (schools), 7 Chinmaya colleges, and the Chinmaya International Residential School in India, and the first Chinmaya Vidyalaya outside India’s borders, in Trinidad (West Indies).
In almost 40 years of establishment, growth, and expansion, the Chinmaya Mission’s academic institutions in India, administered by the CCMT Education Cell (CCMT is Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, the apex body of the Chinmaya Mission Worldwide), have seen over one million students walk through their halls and graduate through their doors. In the year 2007, there were over 50,000 students enrolled, over 3,500 dedicated faculty members, and over 1,000 administrative staff members.
The resounding success of the Chinmaya Education Movement has been primarily due to its unique vision of offering academic education complemented with spiritual knowledge. This has been made possible through the distinctive foundation programme of learning-the Chinmaya Vision Programme (CVP)-which was formulated, developed, and implemented by the CCMT Education Cell on all levels of each Chinmaya educational institution.
Born out of the Chinmaya Mission’s commitment to education and excellence is also the Chinmaya Vidyalaya High School, a private secondary school which opened in September 2003. In September 2005, the Chinmaya Mission will be opening another private secondary school as well as a pre-school in Gasparillo, Trinidad, on lands donated to the Ashram. Another pre-school will also operate at the Ashram in McBean.
CHINMAYA VIDYALAYA Trinidad and Tobago is a holistic educational institution encompassing preschool, primary and secondary school education throughout Trinidad. It provides seamless Education With a Difference. The Institution was established in September 2003 by Chinmaya Mission Trinidad and Tobago Inc., for local and international students.
The driving force behind the establishment of the institution was the recognition of the inadequacies in the public education system, and an earnest desire to develop the academic potential as well as the morals and values required for individual and societal uplift in children. The environment in many schools is not conducive to learning, with a preponderance of violence, crime, drugs and other activities hindering the growth of students during the most impressionable stages of their lives.
At the Vidyalaya, we see that in a growing child, individuality is a process of unfoldment over many years. Stage by stage, a child’s awareness and understanding capacities develop. As the child becomes more aware of the world, he moves gradually from the dim consciousness of infancy, through the dreamy days of childhood, to the intellectual awareness of adolescence and then beyond to the rigorous demands of adulthood. Chinmaya Vidyalaya provides a unique forum for this awakening process in its healthiest form.
The integrated development of the child is the focal point of the academic curriculum. Our intense monitoring and assessment systems together with remediation programmes ensure high academic achievement across the curriculum.
Children are exposed to the right kind of educational experiences from the start, and through careful nurturing at every stage emerge into the world as young men and women of moral strength. They are then ready to tackle the myriad challenges of modern life with a firm, clear gaze and a ready stance. Chinmaya Vidyalaya moulds leaders for the future, who seek the welfare of their society and the greater global community before their own needs.
EDUCATION WITH A DIFFERENCE – RE-IMAGINING AND CHAMPIONING EDUCATION:
In just over a decade, Chinmaya Mission Trinidad and Tobago stands as a premier educational institute, with a focus on both secular and scriptural knowledge as guided by Hindu philosophy, standing testimony to this objective, administering 7 schools throughout Trinidad.
Founded by the Chinmaya Mission of Trinidad and Tobago, Chinmaya Vidyalaya (School) has been at the forefront in reimagining and championing education excellence in Trinidad and Tobago, providing students with a purposeful, transformative and rich educational learning experience through its broad network of early childhood, primary and secondary schools. Established in 2003 with a signature campus in Couva, today, seven campuses are serving students educational needs in communities in Trinidad.
Chinmaya Vidyalaya is committed to providing students with value-based education, integrating elements of the mainstream curriculum with ancient spirituality, culture and leadership modules. Today, 780 students across seven campuses in Trinidad are benefiting from diverse and transformative learning opportunities at Chinmaya Vidyalaya.
Given the recurring failure of the public education system in Trinidad and Tobago, we are now at a critical juncture where we must prioritize and support alternative solutions that are effectively leading and transforming educational development of our promising future leaders. Chinmaya Vidyalaya has been at the forefront in re-imagining, transforming and trailblazing a legacy of educational successes.
It is, therefore, our collective social responsibility in the private and civic sector to actively throw our full support behind a proven and tested model in innovative education that is guaranteeing effective outcomes for the future prosperity of our society.
EMBARKING ON A NEW PROJECT: SANT TUSIDAS CAMPUS:
The Chinmaya Mission and Chinmaya Vidyalaya have both embarked on a new project for the benefit of the children of our nation. We have resolved to establish a modern-day, state of the art educational facility at the Couva location. This is the legacy we intend to leave for future generations.
This project is reflective of a promising solution to the challenges of education within the public system. In 2019, Chinmaya Vidyalaya launched one of its biggest educational milestones – the construction of a state-of-the-art 12-acre campus in Couva – ‘The Chinmaya Vidyalaya Sant Tulsidas Campus’
Powered by over 30,000 square feet of multi-level learning spaces, the new Couva Campus will be equipped with a wide range of facilities, smart technology and resources dedicated to advancing education into the 21st century.
In addition, students will enhance their cultural development, spiritual well-being, real-world experience and leadership capabilities with integrated cultural programming and industry-led training. This facility will house Primary and High schools along with State of the Art Science Laboratories, Library, Language rooms, Amphitheatre.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
- To deliver a one-stop 12-acre state of the art campus for pre-school, primary & secondary students.
- To deliver enriched student learning experiences with innovative facilities, spaces, technology to unleash their potential to shape the future.
- To enhance capacity to 800 students annually in response to waiting list needs.
- To amplify our innovative approach to student academic & all round success by eliminating the need for ‘extra lessons’ in education.
STATUS OF PROJECT AND TIME FRAME
Construction has begun and will be completed over two phases. With a capacity to accommodate 800 full-time secondary school students, Phase 1 is expected to be completed by January 2020.
Phase I – January 2020
- Completion of main academic campus
- Retrofit with smart technology
- Library, gym, yoga, music spaces
- Integrated STEAM (Science, Technology,
- Engineering, Arts and Maths) Facilities
Phase II – September 2020
- Integration of vocational learning spaces
- Carpentry, woodworking, welding shops
- Digital Literacy & entrepreneurship lab
- Climate Action Lab (student-led environmental initiatives)
– Chinmaya Vidyalaya Administration