Isha Vidhya Schools - Educating Rural India

Isha Vidhya is a pioneering education initiative that seeks to transform the lives of India’s rural poor. It was established in 2006 (under the umbrella of Isha Education trust) towards building an India where high-quality school education is accessible and affordable to all, especially for rural underprivileged children.

Isha Vidhya’s 9 rural schools in Tamil Nadu (in the districts of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tuticorin, Nagercoil and Karur ), serve over 8900 rural children, from kindergarten to 12th Standard. 63% of the students – most of whom are first-generation learners – are supported by scholarships. The rest pay a subsidized fee.

How We Do It

“Education need not only be a tool for survival but for enhancing perception. The children must blossom and flower into great human beings.” – Sadhguru

Unique Methodology for Rural Schools

Isha Vidhya teachers receive extensive, on-going training to enhance their capabilities. At the same time, the scalable methodology is designed to reduce the students’ dependence on the teachers for learning. Key features of the methodology include:

Multi-sensory, activity-based learning, which stimulates learning on multiple levels
Interactive, discussion-based classes, promoting analytical and critical thinking skills
English-medium instruction, emphasizing language fluency at a young age
Extensive libraries in print, audio, video and computer materials, enhancing the learning process
Digital classrooms, bringing the world into the village school

The Right Environment & Holistic Development

Isha Vidhya students are given relevant exposure and equipped with essential skills for the 21st century, without losing sight of the traditional wisdom and diversity of India. The school infrastructure includes spacious, well-lit classrooms and clean toilets, rarities in a village setting. To ensure overall development, the schools provide: