Schools of Auroville
Kindergartens
Aha
Aha! Kindergarten is a school for children from 2.5 to 7 years of age, following a self-directed, free-progress philosophy of learning. Inspired by the teachings of Mother and Sri Aurobindo, our objective is to develop a conscious inner will to grow and progress.
Kindergarten
Started in 1984, the Kindergarten today provides for 60 children in four groups. About half these children are Tamilians, though ten other nationalities are also represented. The coordinating team consists of 7 main teachers and assistant teachers plus 5 specialized teachers for music, Sanskrit song, swimming and body awareness.
Nandanam
Nandanam is a crèche plus kindergarten located in Centre Field for up to 60 children between 2.5 to 7 years of age. Nandanam, which means ‘garden' in Sanskrit, is Auroville's second kindergarten started in 2003.
Elementary Schools
Deepanam
Located near Matrimandir, Deepanam is an expanding English medium school, started in 2000, and presently attended by some 65 children aged 6 - 14. The school, which is open 8.30am-3.30pm, works towards Free Progress, in collaboration with Transition School, Nandanam and Kindergarten, trying to provide an education that aims at the integral development of the child.
Transition
Transition School is a primary and middle school for the children of Aurovilians. Presently about 160 children attend the school, representing 19 countries and various states of India. This cultural diversity has led to a dynamic, creative teaching and learning experience with ample opportunity to appreciate and understand cultural differences. The school day runs from 8.20am to 3.30pm, and the students participate in a physical education programme after school. This is one of the larger schools of Auroville, with 10+ classrooms, an ‘Awareness Through the Body’ hall, music hall, computer room, library, and arts & crafts centre. English is the medium of instruction, and Tamil and French are also taught as both first and second languages. Some 30-40 Aurovilians assist in the teaching and coordination.
TLC
In 2008 TLC was formed by a small group of diverse yet like-minded people around this common vision. We widened the learning field from a classroom to the larger community of Auroville and, through this exposure to different communities and environments within Auroville, we naturally engaged in a process of learning and building community.
High Schools
Futureschool
Future School offers a high school equivalent education to primarily Aurovillian students.
Recognised by Edexcel (International British Education and Examination Board) as an exam centre through which students can sit for IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), GCE (General Certificate of Education Advanced Level) and IAL (International Advanced Level) exams.
Lastschool
Last School is a middle/high school in existence since 1985. Students are in the age group 14 to 18 years and above. Education is based on the method called by the Mother ‘Free Progress’, an approach that requires the school’s structure and programmes to be as diverse and supple as possible, in order to respond to each student’s line of progress.
New Era Secondary School
New Era Secondary School (NESS) adopted the new National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) syllabus in 2007 and became affiliated with the CBSE in 2008. The primary purpose for taking this direction was to raise the level of learning and inculcate the all-round development of the rural students of Auroville & its bio-regional schools.