ISKCON schools are
primary
Primary or primaries may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels
* Primary (band), from Australia
* Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea
* Primary Music, Israeli record label
Works
* ...
and
secondary
Secondary may refer to: Science and nature
* Secondary emission, of particles
** Secondary electrons, electrons generated as ionization products
* The secondary winding, or the electrical or electronic circuit connected to the secondary winding i ...
schools run by, or otherwise affiliated with, the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known Colloquialism, colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Gaudiya Vaishnava Hinduism, Hindu religious organization. ISKCON was found ...
(ISKCON), also known as the
Hare Krishna movement
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization. ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktiv ...
. ISKCON schools have been established all over the world.
ISKCON schools are generally run independently, although the ISKCON Ministry of Educational Development (MED) may provide support and guidance in the establishment and running of these schools.
Schools by region
Europe
Avanti Schools Trust
A number of schools are operated by the
Avanti Schools Trust under the direction of the
I-Foundation,
a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
and Hare Krishna charity established to provide religious authority in the governance of state-funded Hindu
faith school
A faith school is a school in the United Kingdom that teaches a general curriculum but which has a particular religious character or formal links with a religious or faith-based organisation. The term is most commonly applied to state-funded fait ...
s in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. These include the
Krishna Avanti Primary School, Harrow
The Krishna Avanti Primary School, Harrow, is United Kingdom, Britain's first state-funded Hinduism, Hindu school. Krishna Avanti Primary School is also the name of Krishna Avanti Primary School, Leicester, a second primary school in Leicester, ...
, the first state-funded Hindu school in UK,
Krishna Avanti Primary School, Leicester the second state funded Hindu school in UK.
Avanti schools follow the standard national curriculum of the UK school system.
Avanti schools additionally feature inclusive
religious education
In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion (although in the United Kingdom the term ''religious instruction'' would refer to the teaching of a particular religion, with ''religious education'' referring to te ...
, ethics and philosophy instruction,
meditation and yoga practice, and
Sanskrit language
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the lat ...
instruction. Primary objectives of Avanti schools are to promote "educational excellence, character formation and spiritual insight."
Bhaktivedanta Manor School
Bhaktivedanta Manor School (now known as Gurukula-The Hare Krishna Primary School) is a school based near
Bhaktivedanta Manor
Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple set in the Hertfordshire countryside of England, in the village of Letchmore Heath near Watford. The Manor is owned and run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), bette ...
in the UK.
www.gurukula.org.uk
Sri Prahlad Gurukula
Sri Prahlad Gurukula, is a school in
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
.
Bhaktivedanta Gurukula
Bhaktivedanta Gurukula, is a school in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
.
The school educates Hare Krishna devotee children as well as those who do not have a Hare Krishna spiritual background.
North America
Bhaktivedanta Academy
Bhaktivedanta Academy, named for ISKCON Founder-Acarya
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is a primary and secondary school in
Alachua, Florida
Alachua ( ) is the second-largest city in Alachua County, Florida and the third-largest in North Central Florida. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 10,574. The city is part of the Gainesville metropolitan area, which had a ...
.
The school is a
Montessori
The Montessori method of education involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills. It emphasizes indepen ...
school and in the process of gaining approval to become an
IB World School that is authorized by the
International Baccalaureate Organisation
The International Baccalaureate (IB), formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Dip ...
(IBO) to offer IB academic programs.
TKG Academy
TKG Academy, named for
Tamala Krishna Goswami
Tamal Krishna Goswami (; 1946–2002), born Thomas G. Herzig in New York City, New York, United States, served on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness's Governing Body Commission since its inception in 1970. He completed a b ...
, is a non-sectarian,
co-educational school in
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
. The academy features
Montessori
The Montessori method of education involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills. It emphasizes indepen ...
Preschool, Lower Elementary, Middle Elementary, and Upper Elementary academic programs,
as well as spiritual programs such as a Morning Sadhana Class and a Spiritual Friday program for students.
The spiritual program is taken from that of ISKCON temples worldwide, as established by ISKCON Founder-Acarya
Srila Prabhupada.
MathEcoSpirit Academy
MathEcoSpirit Academy is a school in Carriere,
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
. The school was founded by Dr. Héctor Rosario, who holds a PhD in Mathematics Education from
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
, and his wife. The school opened 2013 as an initiative to provide holistic education
with a special focus on math and science education, ecology, and spirituality.
The curriculum includes instruction in math, science, language arts, language immersion, philosophy and theology, and character formation.
Languages currently taught include
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
, with plans to include options to study
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
,
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
,
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
, and
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
as modern and ancient languages.
Arts and crafts, farming, meditation, and yoga practice are also a part of the student schedule at the academy.
South America
Bhaktivedanta International School
Bhaktivedanta International School, is a primary school in
Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...
,
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
.
Escola Bhakti
Escola Bhakti ("Bhakti School" in the
Portuguese language
Portuguese ( or, in full, ) is a western Romance language of the Indo-European language family, originating in the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. It is an official language of Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and ...
) is a government-approved primary and secondary school, as well as a socio-educational philanthropic institution, in
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
which offers education free of charge to students.
The school is run by ISKCON devotee volunteers.
The school curriculum is based on the Mayapur Academy Gurukula curriculum.
Asia
The Bhaktivedanta Academy Gurukula Sri Dham Mayapur
The Bhaktivedanta Academy is a gurukula in Sridham Mayapur. It is a traditional Vedic School.
Mission Statement:
“To provide a facility for the Academy’s members to study, practice, and disseminate the teachings of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, along with corollary studies of the standard works of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava ācāryas and the branches of Vedic philosophy, culture, and science in the context of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings.”
Sri Mayapur International School
Sri Mayapur International School (SMIS)
is a primary and secondary school in
Mayapur
Mayapur () is a neighbourhood of Bamanpukur, in the Nabadwip CD block in the Krishnanagar Sadar subdivision of the Nadia district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is situated adjacent to Nabadwip, at the confluence of two rivers, where ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. The school follows the United Kingdom international school curriculum, and students sit for the
Cambridge International Examinations
Cambridge Assessment International Education (informally known as Cambridge International or simply Cambridge and formerly known as CIE, Cambridge International Examinations) is a provider of international qualifications, offering examinations ...
, including the
IGCSE
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an English language based examination similar to GCSE and is recognised in the United Kingdom as being equivalent to the GCSE for the purposes of recognising prior attainm ...
and
A-levels
The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...
. Students at the school have done well in the international exams.
Bhaktivedanta National School, Mayapur
The Bhaktivedanta National School is running under the Sri Dham Mayapur Township Trust. It is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and offers a good education that is open not only to devotee children, but to the local children of the surrounding communities at an affordable price.
Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School
Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School (BGIS)
is a boarding school for boys in
Vrindavan
Vrindavan (; ), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance in Hinduism as Krishna spent most of his childho ...
, India. Students sit for the
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private board designed to provide an examination in a course of general education, in accordance wi ...
examinations.
Amar Ujala
''Amar Ujala'' is a Hindi-language daily newspaper published in India which was founded in 1948. It has 21 editions in six states and two union territories covering 180 districts. It has a circulation of around two million copies. The 2017 Ind ...
, one of the largest
Hindi language
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
newspapers in India, ranked the school as the top school in the
Mathura
Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located approximately north of Agra, and south-east of Delhi; about from the town of Vrindavan, and from Govardhan. ...
district, and the second best school in the state of
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
, in education.
The school made appearance as 13th rank boarding school in Education World Magazine's top 25 Boy's boarding school in India and 1st in Uttar Pradesh.
Bangladesh
Bhaktivedanta International School (BIS)
Bhaktivedanta International School (BIS) was established in January 2014 in
Chittagong
Chittagong ( /ˈtʃɪt əˌɡɒŋ/ ''chit-uh-gong''; ctg, চিটাং; bn, চিটাগং), officially Chattogram ( bn, চট্টগ্রাম), is the second-largest city in Bangladesh after Dhaka and third largest city in B ...
,
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
. It is a national curriculum based English Medium School run by ISKCON Chittagong. It has already gained its popularity in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
It used to organize the Srila Prabhupada Merit Scholarship Competition every year, which is one of the renowned scholarship examination in primary level in Bangladesh.
It is the first school that implements Vedic Spiritual guidelines with modern education in Bangladesh.
Australia and New Zealand
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula is a registered, independent primary and secondary school located in
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
The school curriculum includes learning activities in English, mathematics, science, technology, personal development, health and physical education, human society and its environment, creative arts (visual arts, music, and drama), Krishna conscious studies, foreign language, and school sport.
Hare Krishna School
Hare Krishna School is a state integrated primary school
in
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
.
In addition to the standard New Zealand curriculum, the school teaches Sanskrit language, Vedic scriptures, Indian musical instruments, and character education.
The school curriculum features spirituality and values, thinking skills, English, mathematics, scripture study, Sanskrit language, social studies, technology, sciences, computer skills, art, dance, drama, music, health and physical education, with Krishna conscious practices, philosophy, and values in the centre of education.
Africa
Lord Krishna's Academy
Lord Krishna's Academy, is a school located in
Accra
Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...
,
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
.
The school is run by Srivas Dasa, a disciple of
Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Bhakti Tirtha Swami (; February 25, 1950 – June 27, 2005), previously called John Favors and Toshombe Abdul and also known by the honorific Krishnapada (), was a guru and governing body commissioner of the International Society for Krishna C ...
.
Nimai International School
Nimai International School, is a school located in
Port Harcourt,
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
.
Child protection
ISKCON previously operated a number of gurukula boarding schools, aiming to establish institutions of education according to the traditional Vedic model. From the late 1970s, allegations of child abuse by select members of certain ISKCON school communities threatened the safety and tarnished the reputation of these schools. Such abusive actions, however, are directly in violation of the fundamental teachings of the Hare Krishna movement, and are strongly condemned by ISKCON. To address these issues, ISKCON shut down many of the original schools, set up funds to compensate the victims,
opened new day and boarding schools integrating revised models of education, opened a Child Protection Office (CPO) dedicated to preventing and appropriately dealing with child abuse,
and instituted trainings
and policies
to combat such abuses, with the goal of total prevention of child abuse.
References
{{Reflist, 2
Schools affiliated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
International Society for Krishna Consciousness