Akal academy Kajri received the blessings of Gyani Gurbachan Singh ji (honorable head of Akal Takht Sri Harmandar Sahib) and Gyani Iqbal Singh ji (Patna Sahib) on their auspicious arrival on 28 Feb., 2017 in the school premises.

Mrs. Simran Kaur Thind (the principal), the staff and children welcomed these spiritual gyanis reverently and gracefully with Shabad recitation. Gyani Gurbachan Singh ji blessed the children for their upcoming examination and their future and he wished to god for the welfare of the institution.

Sardar Jagjit Singh ji (Kaka Veer ji, sewadar of Kalgidhar Trust Baru Sahib H. P.) showed respect to all the Jattha members by giving them Saropas.

Sant Baba Gurjit Singh ji Harigarh wale baptised these kids and bestowed them with the Khalsa Identity. In such Kalyug times where the youth are trapped in the Drug Menace, these kids are setting exemplary for the upcoming generation on how to preserve the seeds of Sikhi.

Democratic learning practices in the current school scenario will be more effective if the learners at all age group are made able to see the value of what they are learning and gaining of their school experiences. There is wider consensus among educationists about connecting the course of studies to the real world implications. Getting and judging the value of the course by themselves within a broader academic framework can help students sustain motivation and persist through challenges and setbacks. The schools, teachers and parents alike can help students by exposing them to choices basis their personal interests. It is through child counseling sessions, personal sessions with children and parents that appropriate electives can be fixed for the kids. Schools taking big initiatives can group the entire school learners into different categories and assign them roles and responsibilities under different hobby clubs under the teachers’ guidance and care.
Passing Relevance to Students’ Academic Lives.

Right from the beginning of the schooling a child in his starting class grades starts showing up his capabilities, interests, likes and dislikes in academics. Consequently, it is important to explain to students how their course will help prepare them for subsequent courses in ensuing years. However, it is crucial for the school teachers and parents to develop core learning values among the learners via offering them choices in Electives to develop relevance and interests. A child doing extremely well in Elementary Maths or Drawing or Art and Craft can be directed to streamline his interests to go ahead in the same field to carry on his academic line to fulfill his professional aims. Here at this level, offering choices in relevant fields will help making children free and independent learners. A child’s academic and elective interests need synchronization through planning and participation to reach to fulfillment and achievement.
Meeting the Diverse needs of Individuals:

Individuals on the basis of their, age, class, gender and other requirements, social, religious, cultural and economic have diverse levels, status and needs. Education is the tool of fulfilling these requirements for the self and others in a way that suits to all. It is sad but true that our education system focuses on academic performance but does not help the children to decide in their early school life. The career paths that they would like to choose are set in traditional ways of guiding and instructing the school children and adhere to core subjects only. This often leads learners to go for subjects that neither suit to their careers nor fulfill the diverse needs and other concerns of life. Schools on many occasions can easily holds counseling and guidance sessions every month inviting the people of different fields, professions such as journalists, writers, artisans, potters, theatre actors, dancers, musicians etc. who would happily visit the schools. Similarly, short duration workshops can be arranged to can be arranged to help children identify their individual talents.

Electives to inspire, creativity, innovation and skills:

Good learning advances through innovation. Children learn better if schools develop new and better ideas and methods to foster creativity and innovation the demand for creativity and creative thinking is increasing and will fuel economies in the future, yet our students are less prepared to become innovative thinkers of tomorrow. Fortunately, these skills can be enhanced and taught by offering opportunities through various school based curricula. By creating a free and independent learning environment the schools can engage their children in skill development activities via indoor or outdoor surveys, projects, seminars, action research, and sports events or by organizing social awareness drives etc.

Choosing Options at Schools:

Recent innovational developments in curriculum designing by the education boards and schools itself the scope of going for electives has widened. Both CBSE and ICSE boards have recently introduced a variety of elective subjects for the learners ranging more than 40 courses under elective subject’s scheme. Besides there are variety of vocational course to meet the needs of skill development of secondary level grades ranging from; Electronics Technology, Ophthalmic Techniques, Medical Laboratory Techniques Fashion Design and Clothing Construction, Library and Information Sciences, Mass Media Studies, Media Production, Travel and Tourism, Office Secretaryship, Banking, Retail, Electronics Technology Etc. However, it is up to schools to provide the options judging the best choices for each learner.

Enhancing scope of Individual Life Skills:

We come across so many children who pick careers thrust upon them by their parents. Nowadays, so many new fields are opening up, offering unconventional career choices which are just as well paying as the common professions. It is important for parents to talk to their child, be sensitive to his/her natural skills and try and hone them. In recent times when there is high end cry advocating for the development of democratic values in learning in our schools. There is nothing new about the idea that students should be able to participate, individually and collectively, in making decisions. This conviction has long played a role in schools now being sophisticatedly designated as progressive, democratic, open, free, experimental, or alternatively; in educational philosophies called developmental, constructivist, holistic, intrinsic or learner-centered; and in the daily teaching –learning routine of teachers whose natural instinct is to treat children with respect love care and guidance.
Concluding Thoughts:

Education in totality aims to engender fundamental capacities among children such as successful learners, self-reliant individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. Recent emerging changes in our school systems, curriculum framework and educational programmes and policies of the governments have opened before the learners’ greater choices in deciding their courses and curriculum. This has set forth before the stakeholders the challenge of giving to the children an independent, holistic and autonomous learning in schools which is a highly desirable and ineluctable but challenged concept in education.

Ushering into this learning environment, our educational institutions and schools can bring and create a purely egalitarian learning community thereby opening the doors of democratic learning to bring one and all to grow and develop in the realm of intrinsically controlled but essentially free and independent environment. Just imagine a school or an educational system where teaching-learning experiences are directed, designed and delivered in such a way that every child finds himself/herself at the helm towards undertaking an independent, comprehensive, self-decisive voyage concerning academics as well as other aspects of life.

These are the ancient string (Tanti Saaz) instruments used in Gurmat Sangeet. These instruments were almost extinct in this modern world but with the blessings of Baba Iqbal Singh Ji these string instruments were again brought into limelight by not only using them to sing the whole Guru Granth Sahib ji in the original Raagas but also by training scores of young students in playing these. And now these instruments are used in Gurmat Sangeet by Anahad Bani Jatha at Baru Sahib.

1st Saaz is Drupadi Rabab:- This instrument was played by Bhai Mardana Ji when Guru Nanak Dev used to recited Gurbani.

2nd Saaz is Taus:- This instrument is shaped like a peacock and was made at the time of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and then later on used by Guru Gobind Singh to recite Gurbani.

3rd Saaz is sitar which very well known instrument in India.

(Starting from left)4th Saaz is Saranda which was made by Guru Amardas ji and later used by Guru Arjan Dev ji to recite Gurbani.

5th Saaz is Sarangi which was played at the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji in dhadi waran and this is also well known Saaz in Hindustani Classical Music.

6th Saaz is Dilruba which is used by Sikh Sangat in Gurmat sangeet to recite Gurbani.

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Students of Akal Academy, Sowaddi Kalan conduct an Anti Pollution Rally to make people of the nearby areas aware of harmful effects of pollution. The rally was flagged off from the school. Various banners with strong messages on its adverse effects on heath and slogans were raised.

The rally gave the students a platform where they presented their views and brought awareness amongst the society regarding various social issues of national and international concern.
Efforts of the students and the staff members was appreciated by the nearby locality members for taking up such enviromental issues.

Expectations come true, basket after basket and the coach smiles as the final quarter whistle is blown. Coach D.S Randhawa of the school Akal Academy Baru Sahib stands in pride. He pats the back of the players who played and were sweating hard under the hot sun.

There were memorable photographs stuck on the wall of the principal’s room as there were fourteen figures with an innovative light standing around their coach with trophies in hands. Perhaps some of them would become professionals in some years from now.

When the bell for the ground time rang students rushed out of the corridor and ran upstairs to the basketball court. Excited about new things to learn, they picked up the basket balls in their hands and started the drills. Within that hour the spirit of excelling pumped up their chest.

After months of practice it is time to beat the heat. There are tensed moments which would be a threat to every player’s heartbeat. The moment for which they practiced whole -heartedly finally arrived. The innovative light has a perfect moment to come out of the players.

This was all a quick dilemma of the environment before and after a team arrives at the tournament. And now, let me tell you what those photographs hanging on the principal’s wall meant. The basket ball team of Akal Academy Baru Sahib stood 2nd in St. Lukies Tournament in which a total of 32 best basketball teams of Himachal Pradesh participated. Played the north zone C.B.S.E clusters and finished 3rd. It’s only the motivation which makes them stand. No matter how better your opponent is and never mind the mistakes you commit.

With the participation in the state level tournament they have again finished 2nd. Remembering the thoughts of greatness coach D.S Randhawa grins watching the photographs and walks out the principal’s room. He is greeted by Baba Iqbal Singh ji and rewarded along the team with pursuits of greatness.

Your talent is your supporter and your performance is your greatness, So NEVER GIVE UP.

-JAGPAL SINGH