Another exquisite feature of Akal Academies that makes us stand distinct amongst other schools, is that all of the Akal Academies have always followed a record trend of absolutely ‘No-Outside-Tuitions’ for any of our students.

“The culture is known to be followed like a religion by all our students, our students of Akal Academies do not know much or are unaware about the concept of tuitions, that is usually prevalent is trending amongst most public and city schools”, cited an experienced senior teacher, who has been serving Akal Academies since a decade.

The exclusive feature, which is supposedly unique or at least rarely amongst schools, especially in the current generation, is being devoutly adhered ever since the inception of Akal Academies – a culture being maintained all through our 27 glorious years.

Though most of the staff members of the organization know about the prevalence of this culture, but our young team of city-kids who managed to get through schools only through riding the expensive tuitions ferry, were highly intrigued to know and understand how this was possible and how the concept has managed to flourish across all academies at all times in parallel.

Upon some pleasantly intrusive keen investigations involving enquiring interviews, which were warmly welcomed, we learned the secret behind – the reason for no student is subscribing to the tradition of taking tuitions or even feeling the need for it and the reason was both stunning & commendable.

Surprisingly, the responsibility of support and guidance beyond schooling hours is fulfilled by the Academic staff – the Teachers themselves, and that too voluntarily and free of any kind of charges, within the school itself, even if it has to be working beyond the stipulated hours. This way the teachers always ensure there is no need for students to look for expensive tuitions, external help or guidance; they believe that course text books alongside focused training is sufficient to crack even through board examinations with flying colors.

This practice was conceptualized to address the concerns of rural and under-privileged students and their families, for whom affording tuitions was not even remotely possible, hence the concept was consciously designed – which has been successfully been observing its universal application across all Akal Academies, ever since.

So tuitions, totally free of charge, are in fact happening regularly within the school premises; primarily seeking to serve the purpose of addressing one-on-one needs of individual students, typically the-private-teachers-way in the cities do in the form of home tuitions; the process and the concept, perhaps, just evolved in a philanthropic and fantastic way for the rural folks!

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 19th Nov ’13

Jasneet Kaur, a Ph.D. Research Scholar at Eternal University, Baru Sahib was recently invited at the 2013 INDO-Global Education Summit, organized by ‘The INDUS Foundation’ at Indian Habitat Center on 9^th November, 2013 where she was awarded for Research Excellence on the basis of her research contributions and publications on the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials.

Jasneet’s research papers gave an in-depth analysis about ‘Synthesis and Characterization of different Nanostructures of Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors’. Her work in the domain of Material Science has previously been published in several editorials and magazines; she has written various research articles on the subject and has also been an active participant in many of the National and International Research Seminars & Conferences.

An Alumnus of Akal Academy Baru Sahib (Himachal Pradesh), Jasneet Kaur originally belongs to New Delhi. She and her family, have close affinity to Baru Sahib and Baba Iqbal Singh Ji. She decided to join Akal Academy, Baru Sahib at the time when she had completed her 8^th standard schooling from Guru Nanak Public School and completed rest of her studies here.

After completion of her high school, Jasneet pursued B.Sc. Physics (Hons.) from Maitreyi College, University of Delhi and did her M.Sc. at the Department of Physics & Astrophysics, University of Delhi – after which she joined Eternal University as a Ph.D. Research Scholar, where she is carrying on with her Research on Nano Materials and also taking lectures for under-graduate and post-graduate students at the University.

INDO – GLOBAL Education Summit – is a comprehensive educational event of its kind ever held in India being the biggest networking event for leaders in education from India and other countries, which sees participation of around 1000 Top-Indian and Foreign Universities. Initiated in 2010, the summit identifies and promotes innovation and educational excellence through presentation of education awards to institutions, educationists, and faculty in recognition of their contributions and excellence in any of the various academic fields.

~ Deeksha Singh
~ New Delhi, 15th Nov ’13

The wave of Rural Transformation has hit village Manal this time – With Foundation Stone laid on 13^th November 2013 through the hands of 89 Years Young Baba Iqbal Ji himself, the village will now soon have its own Akal College for Women.

“The opening of the Akal College in this district will hugely be helpful; the girls will no longer need to travel distant places for First-Class Higher Education”, Babaji quoted on the occasion of Inaugural Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony.

During the event, he talked about the vision behind running of various Educational Institutes including Akal Academies and Colleges, which seek to provide modern scientific education following the traditional disciplines and strategies of Gurukul, striving to curb the drugs/alcohol addiction and to uproot the prevalent social evils from our society whilst invoking spirituality – faith & love for almighty into students.

The 5.5 acre of land for the noble cause of developing the Akal College has been donated by Major Gurcharan Singh Jhaj and his wife Raminder Kaur Jhaj, in the loving memory of their deceased son S. Gurdeep Singh Jhaj to The Kalgidhar Trust for the Noble cause of imparting quality education.

The inauguration ceremony observed presence of several social, religious personalities, who honored Baba Iqbal Singh Ji, for his commendable work and relentless efforts, especially at such age of 89 years.

Whilst addressing the guests, Babaji also mentioned about the “Guru Ki Kashi – Akal University” being constructed at Damdama Sahib – Talwandi Sabo Ki , which undertakes the noble task of bringing to reality the 4^th Blessing of Gobind Singh Ji (The 10th Master); where he appealed everyone to support and contribute for the Great Noble Endeavor.

Babaji expressed to the audience that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is an ‘Epitome of Inter-Faith’ and our community has remained unsuccessful in spreading the awareness about this noble truth which can bring universal unity amongst people of all faiths whilst explaining that the foremost objective of Guru Ki Kashi would be to translate Guru Granth Sahib into all the languages of the world, so that the proclaimed message of brotherhood can be propagated.

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 14th Nov ’13

With Year 2013 end closing in, Akal Academies across the Rural Villages of Northern India will be completing its 27th year of education odyssey, a journey of transformation, and a journey that has only been growing younger, with each rural child coming aboard, moving onto its 28^th year in the year 2014.

27 Years old, 60000+ young rural students, the Akal Academies that started with 5 students in 1986 at Baru Sahib, are now breeding across 6450 villages along Northern Rural belt of India covering 5 states i.e. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, UP, Haryana & Rajasthan through India’s First knitted web of 129+ Value-Based education system schools for Rural & the under-privileged with a remarkable record growth of 20+ new schools in 2011-13 with each school providing stark facilities, infrastructure & quality of education at par with the city schools.

Up till now, we have been providing you with updates about student performances & events taking place at our Academies and now, over the coming days we will take you to a remarkable insights journey into workings and systems of our Akal Academies – from internal environment, schedules and activities of the school, to the extra-curricular activities undertaken,  strategies being followed, innovations to come, the research and the upcoming endeavors in the pipeline and much more as we go about celebrating 27 years of transformation, success & your benign support.

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 6th Nov ’13