In the Shikshapatri (code of conduct) Lord Swaminarayan has said, ‘Having established a centre for learning and having entrusted it to a well qualified scholar, spread of good education should be pursued, as it is highly beneficial in the world’ (Shlok 132). In saying this, Lord Swaminarayan has shown how much He Himself values education, and how it is a very important part of our organisation.

Lord Swaminarayan writes the Shikshapatri

Our guru Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa, has as per Lord Swaminarayan’s wishes, emphasised the importance of education within the sansthan and society.

Throughout His life, Jeevanpran Swamibapa has demonstrated a clear zeal for both learning and teaching, and has pioneered the establishment of centres of education, such as The Shree Swaminarayan Arts & Science Colleges in India. Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s great work is continued today by His Holiness Acharya Swamishree, the current leader of the Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. Following in Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s footsteps, Acharya Swamishree has also inspired the creation of such centres of learning that Lord Swaminarayan instructs in the Shikshapatri, and is continually promoting education as a vital part of our lives to enable us to improve both as individuals and as a society.

Jeevanpran Swamibapa

One of the many ways in which Acharya Swamishree promotes education is by the benevolence of scholarships and recognition of academic excellence. Annually Acharya Swamishree acknowledges the academic and vocational excellence of the members of the sansthan with public recognition of their efforts, and so encourages them and others to achieve higher standards in order to please Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and serve society.

Shree Muktajeevan Academy of Excellence at Shree Swaminarayan Temple London promotes the following activities:

• Gujarati
• Tutition
• Religious Studies
• Cookery
• Traditional Indian Devotional Music
• Devotional Indian Dance
• Sports coaching

Swamibapa Gujarati Classes

There are many advantages in learning Gujarati:

• To preserve and pass on traditional values, culture, language and good moral conduct to future generations
• To encourage the study of religious scriptures to gain extensive knowledge about the mind, body, soul, creation etc.

Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa foresaw the importance of the language and instigated the teaching of Gujarati in our temples.

Swamibapa Gujarati classes are held on Saturday afternoons catering for children aged 6 and above. There are several classes covering a wide range of core topics from the very basics right through to GCSE level and beyond. The students are grouped according to their individual abilities and are taught a syllabus involving the Gujarati language as well as aspects of religious and cultural awareness.

Gujarati Classes

Swamibapa Tuition Classes

Shree Muktajeeven Academy of Excellence holds Homework Clubs during the week in the temple. There are currently classes in Mathematics, ICT & Science covering all Key Stages and levels of learning. Classes have an attendance of around 20 people on a regular basis. Future plans include the setting up of Adult Community Classes in Literacy, Numeracy & ICT skills. These will be open to the local community as well as the temple members.

Swamibapa Careers Forum

Swamibapa Careers Forum aims supplement the traditional careers advice offered to student by their educational institute with a more realistic careers interview, with the young person actually questioning a person who does the job they are interested in. The objective of the Forum to introduce an aspirant to someone who has a degree in his or her field of interest, either from the immediate congregation or from the Temple’s wider community of friends. The Forum will also be used by students when applying for their degree courses so that they can get feedback and opinions from former students on those institutions being applied to.

Information will also be provided on careers, industry and recruitment fairs. Click here for further information.

Cookery

Cookery classes are held for younger children with the aim to encourage a healthy and balanced diet.  Recipes for these tasty dishes are available on the bhakti section within the baal-mandir website.

Swamibapa Music Academy

Harmonium and tabla classes are held for boys and girls aged 7 upwards. For further information, please visit the Shree Muktajeevan  Music Academy section within Shree Muktajeevan Arts & Culture Academy

Other Educational Activites

Throughout the week regular coaching and training sessions are held for a wide range of sports including football, cricket, netball, volleyball, and badminton. For further information please visit the Shree Muktajeevan Sports Academy section.