ACHARYA PRASHIKSHAN SHIBIR

The Acharya Prashikshan Shibir for the academic year (2025–26) began on 24th June at VKV Sri Vijaya Puram with great enthusiasm. The day started with participant registration, followed by Bhajan Sandhya a soulful rendition of devotional and spiritual compositions such as '3 Omkara', 'Shantipath', 'Ekyamantra', 'Karmayoga', and 'Shanti Mantra & Prarthana' created a serene and spiritually uplifting atmosphere." The inaugural session included the Shibir Geet “Seva ka Vrat Dhaara” and an introduction to the Shibir’s objectives by Shri Abhishek Saha and Km. Elirsi. Smt. Jaya Sivasankaran welcomed the dignitaries — Mananeeya Nivedita Didi and Mananeeya Vishwasji — and briefed participants on the guidelines. An inspiring interaction with Nivedita Didi highlighted the purpose of the Shibir and the role of teachers in value-based education.

On 25th June, the day began with Prathasmaran and Kendra Varga, including yoga, slogans, and a discussion on teachers’ role in nation-building. The morning assembly was conducted by VKVZPV Port Mout. Key academic sessions followed: Nivedita Didi spoke on Indian Culture, Shri Venu Gopal on Lesson Planning, and Vishwasji on Amrit Pariwar, each followed by engaging discussions. Post-lunch, Shri Pradeep Das guided participants on school prayer conduct. Group presentations (Manthan), Kridayoga, and Bhajan Sandhya added energy and reflection to the day. The final session on Report Writing by Vishwasji helped participants understand the importance of clear and structured documentation. The first two days concluded with a strong sense of purpose, unity, and inspiration for all participants.

The Acharya Prashikshan Shibir for the academic session 2025–26 began on 24th June 2025 at Vivekananda Kendra, Sri Vijaya Puram, with a spirit of dedication and learning. The reporting and registration of the participants took place from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The evening commenced with Bhajan Sandhya at 5:30 pm, which began with three Omkaras, Eikyamantra, Guru Vandana, Ganesh Vandana, Saraswati Vandana, Nirvana Shatakam, and concluded with Prarthana, creating a spiritually uplifting environment.

The Inaugural Session, conducted from 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm, began with the Shibir Geet “Seva Ka Vrat Dhaara” led and followed by Shri Raju Sarkar. Smt. Jaya Sivasankaran, Principal of VKV Sri Vijaya Puram, introduced the dignitaries — Mananeeya Nivedita Didi, Vice President, Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, and Mananeeya Vishwasji, Prant Sangathak, Paschim Bengal — and briefed the gathering on the rules and general guidelines of the Shibir. This was followed by an interactive session with Nivedita Didi, where she shared the core purpose of the Shibir, motivating all participants to commit themselves to self-development, service, and the values of Bharatiya education.

    

Day 1: 25th June 2025 (Wednesday)

The day began with Prathasmaran from 5:30 am to 6:30 am, which included three Omkaras, Eikyamantra, Shantipath, Karmayoga Shloka Sangrah, and Prarthana, helping participants start their day with calmness and inner strength.

Kendra Varga was conducted from 6:30 am to 7:30 am. It consisted of loosening exercises and selected asanas, followed by Aagya session, Nara (before and after the game), and a short but engaging game Passing through the Ring. A motivational geet “Ho Jao Taiyar Sathiyo” was sung, followed by a discussion on the Role of Teachers in Man Making and Nation Building. The session concluded with Shanti Mantra, Ekatritkaran, Prarthana, and Avalokan.

After breakfast from 7:30 am to 8:30 am, the morning assembly began at 8:40 am and was conducted by VKVZPV Port Mout. The session included Vivek Vani, setting a positive tone for the day.

At 9:00 am, Session 1 was delivered by Mananeeya Nivedita Didi, who shared insights on Indian Culture. She emphasized the three fundamental components: Vision of Life, Values of Life, and Systems of Life. Her message encouraged participants to embrace Indian traditions in their teaching journey.

Session 2 (10:30 am – 11:45 am) was conducted by Shri Venu Gopal, Academic Officer of VKVs Andamans. The topic was Lesson Planning, and he explained various essential teaching skills, the five-step learning process, and the significance of adopting activity-based and competency-oriented learning models in classrooms.

Session 3 (11:50 am – 1:00 pm) was handled by Mananeeya Vishwasji on Amrit Pariwar. He explained the cultural and value-based aspects of family and community living, focusing on Bhasha, Bhoosha, Bhojan, Bhajan, Bhawan, and Brahman. He also introduced concepts like Amrit Prabhat, Amrit Charcha, Amrit Surabhi, and Amrit Shyam. This was followed by a group discussion and “Sankalp” presentations by the participants.

Post-lunch (1:00 pm – 2:15 pm), a session on School Prayer was conducted. Shri Pradeep Das gave step-by-step instructions on how to conduct an effective school assembly. Smt. Sangita Debnath guided the participants in singing the prayer song “He Prabha Anand Data” with devotion and clarity.

The Manthan session, held from 2:45 pm to 4:00 pm, allowed the groups to present their thoughts, conclusions, and takeaways from the previous sessions. This helped in reinforcing shared understanding and collaborative learning.

A short tea break followed from 4:00 pm to 4:15 pm. Afterward, the participants took part in Kridayoga (4:15 pm – 5:00 pm), playing team-oriented games like In and Out, Damru Run, Passing the Bottle, and group songs, promoting unity and energy among all.

At 5:30 pm, Bhajan Sandhya was held again in the same format as the previous day, including bhajans dedicated to Ganesh and the Guru, enhancing the atmosphere with devotion and peace.

The day concluded with Session 4 from 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm, conducted by Mananeeya Vishwasji on Report Writing. He explained the importance, purpose, and method of writing impactful reports. The session included a group discussion that helped participants understand the structure, clarity, and objective of report writing.

 Day 2: 26th June 2025 (Thursday)

The second day of the Shibir commenced with Pratahsmaran from 5:30 am to 6:30 am, followed by Kendra Varga till 7:00 am. During this session, participants performed body loosening exercises, Yoga Asanas, Agya Abhyas, and Naara Geet. A group discussion was conducted on the topic “Benefits and Challenges of Child-Centred Education”, which was followed by Prarthana and Avalokan.

After breakfast, the morning assembly was conducted by VKV Sri Vijaya puram.

The first academic session of the day (Session 5) was taken by Mananeeya Nivedita Didi on the topic "Karneeyam Bindu", where she elaborated on Vivekananda Kendra, its structure, and the different types of Karyakartas such as Jeevan Vrati, Vanaprasthi, Sevavrati, and Sthanik Karyakartas. She also highlighted the significance of the four Vargas — Sanskar Varga, Yog Varga, Kendra Varga, and Swadhyay, and explained effective ways to conduct these activities.

Session 6 was conducted by Shri Venu Gopal on the topic “Holistic Progress Card (HPC)”, where he briefed the participants on the usage of the HPC, assessment rubrics, level descriptors, key indicators, and the importance of maintaining Anecdotal Records.

In Session 7, Mananeeya Viswasji addressed the gathering on the topic “Flagship Programs for VKVs”, followed by school-wise group discussions on “Flagship Program for My School”, providing an opportunity for participants to brainstorm and present innovative ideas.

Post-lunch, from 2:15 pm to 2:40 pm, Shri Pradeep Das provided Assembly Guidelines, covering aspects like commands, while Smt. Sangeeta Debnath conducted practice for the National Song - Vande Mataram.

Later, school-wise presentations were held where participants shared their plans for the Flagship Programs.

During the Kridayoga Session, various interactive games like In and Out, Aakash Dharti Pataal, etc., were conducted. Along with the games, songs were sung and Naaras were given, adding energy and enthusiasm to the session.

The evening concluded with Bhajan Sandhya, creating a spiritual and devotional atmosphere.

In the final session (Session 8), Mananeeya Nivedita Didi once again addressed the participants, emphasizing the importance of the “Karneeyam Bindu” for students. She also insisted that teachers should devote extra time for the betterment of society, as the progress of an individual naturally expands to the family, the family expands to the society, the society expands to the nation, and the nation contributes to the creation of a better world. In this way, we all are interconnected, and only by making our society better can we nurture responsible citizens and a prosperous country.

 Day 3: 27th June 2025 (Friday)

The day's schedule commenced at 5:30 a.m. with Pratahsmaran, where all participants joined in collective prayer and reflection, setting a spiritual and energetic beginning to the day.

From 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., the Gana wise kendra Varga was held. During this session, teachers engaged in body loosening exercises, followed by abhyas, game, Nara chanting, group discussions prarthana and avalokan.

After breakfast, the first session was taken by Smti. Shiny Mohan, Vice Principal, VKV, Shri Vijayapuram, on the topic "Development of Skills in Classrooms". She elaborated on the importance of building various life skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, emotional skills, leadership qualities, problem-solving, self-study, and creativity to make students capable and confident individuals.

In the second session, Man. Nivedita Didi addressed the topic "Thoughts of Indian Knowledge System". Through an informative and visually appealing video presentation, she highlighted the significance of incorporating the Indian Knowledge System in modern classrooms. She also discussed the challenges associated with its implementation, such as three generational gaps, pedagogical knowledge, teaching methods, and ensuring genuineness in its delivery.

The third session was conducted by Smti. Jaya Sivasankaran, Principal VKV Sri Vijaya Puram on "Competency-Based Education". She explained the core elements of this approach, focusing on the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes among learners. She also discussed various types of assessments, question framing techniques, and practical strategies to effectively implement competency-based learning. 

Following this, the fourth session was led by Smti. Sangita Chander, Headmistress VKNPV, Ranchi Tekri on "Leadership and Teamwork " With the help of short videos and engaging explanations, she beautifully detailed the qualities of effective leadership and the essential aspects one must keep in mind while working in a team environment.

The final session of the day was taken by Shri Kamalji, Headmaster, VKZPV Pahalgaon, on the topic "Teacher's Role as a Model, Mentor, and Educator". Using relatable real-life examples, he emphasized how teachers must consistently exhibit ideal qualities to serve as role models for students and carry forward positive values into society.

The program concluded with the Valedictory Function, which began at 3:15 p.m. Two teachers shared their heartfelt experiences about participating in the Acharya Prashikshan Shibir, reflecting on their learnings and personal growth. Thereafter, Mananeeya Nivedita Didi summarized the essential roles and responsibilities of teachers, highlighting their crucial contribution to shaping society and making it a better place to live.

The function concluded with all teachers offering flowers in front of Swami Vivekananda's portrait, paying tribute to his ideals and seeking inspiration to implement the learnings of the Shibir in their personal and professional lives.