True education has to unfold and reveal what is already present in
the children; they open themselves in joy just like flowers open themselves
to the sun.
Dedicated to village children
New Creation participates in Auroville's unique
and challenging experiment by prioritising the aspiration of those original
inhabitants and their children who have lived on the piece of land which
ultimately became Auroville. These first citizens of Auroville, the
Tamil village population of about thirty thousand people, reside in
pockets in and around Auroville.
Integral learning process
Although Auroville has many active village development
projects, the community of New Creation is the only one which is wholly
committed to the multi-level development of village children. By creating
a congenial, non-authoritarian atmosphere in which these village children
can open themselves to an integral learning process, the teachers of
New Creation hope that, one day, the children will become better equipped
to fight against both the visible and invisible limitations that exist
in their lives and the lives of others in their immediate surroundings
Skills and employment programmes
As a community of Auroville, New Creation seeks
the ideal of Human Unity by sharing with the present generation of village
children the opportunities that have developed as a result of Auroville's
growth. Some of today's 65 residents of New Creation are former students
whose current livelihood is the result of educational skills and employment
programmes offered to them in New Creation.
Tests for higher schooling
While New Creation hopes over time to expand its
capacity for a boarding situation, the current emphasis is on the day-school,
which includes a crèche and a kindergarten. A complex of detached and
semi-detached classrooms serves the needs of students from grade one
to seven. Class sizes range from eight to twenty students.
All pupils attaining level seven have the opportunity
each March to take a test for entry, during the following school year,
into the Gentilesse School, where they are able to study for standard
10, or into After School, where they can study for standards 10 and
12, giving them the possibility of entry into university.
The core subjects offered are English, Tamil, Science and Mathematics.
In addition, classes include training in software applications, tailoring,
handicrafts in wood and clay modeling, dance, drama and swimming.
Professional training programmes
New Creation's immediate goals for the future include
the introduction of professional training programmes for electricians,
carpenters, tailors and metal workers, because not all children who
complete their education at New Creation School desire higher education.
Many are eager to begin to learn how to earn their livelihood; for some
it is an economic necessity.
It is to accommodate the needs of this sizeable group that New Creation
wishes to develop an independent training programme, developed with
the cooperation and participation of neighbouring schools, which will
enable Tamil village children to secure a decent progressive and material
future.
Free progress
In July 2000 a new crèche, called 'Free Progress'
was started with 30 children aged 2 ½ to 3 ½. For these children no
formal education is given before the age of 7 or 8, and daily activities
are physical exercises, games, singing, drawing, playing, with time
for rest and also outings to discover places. Languages spoken are
French and Tamil in the first two years, after which other languages
will be introduced.
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Formally New Creation Bilingual School, catering to more than 200 village children is also located in the New Creation compound.
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