Sanskrit Shlokapathan – Supplementary Curriculum: An Innovative Initiative
The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2023) place significant emphasis on Sanskrit education and Value education at the school level. While it is theoretically accepted that Sanskrit should hold an important place in education for value-based learning and to introduce students to Indian culture, there is an atmosphere of confusion in the educational sector regarding its implementation.
Sanskrit Bharati, a voluntary organization, has been working for the promotion of Sanskrit in India and 26 countries across the world for the past 45 years. The innovative conversational method developed by Sanskrit Bharati for teaching Sanskrit is globally recognized today.
Sanskrit Shloka literature, including Subhashitas (wise sayings) and Stotras (hymns), is an invaluable heritage passed down to us through tradition. Therefore, as volunteers of Sanskrit Bharati, we were striving to create a supplementary curriculum of Shlokas and Stotras for school students. The result of these efforts is this very curriculum.
# Objectives of the Curriculum—
The following primary Educational Objectives were kept in mind while designing this curriculum:
1. To enhance children's knowledge of human conduct through Subhashitas.
2. To develop the capacity for pure pronunciation.
3. To instill values of humility, character, and honesty in them.
Success in achieving these objectives will provide a major boost to the holistic development of the students' personalities.
# Tiered Structure—
1. Alignment with National Education Policy: This curriculum has been prepared considering all four levels of NEP 2020: Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary.
2. Sequential Development: It covers all grades from Balvatika (Pre-primary) to Class 12.
3. Scientific Design: The structure of the curriculum is based on the principle of 'Simple to Complex'.
# Scope of the Curriculum—
1. The curriculum includes a total of 500 Subhashitas, 12 Stotras, and 12 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, categorized by grade level.
2. If a student practices recitation continuously from Balvatika to Class 12, they will memorize all these Subhashitas, Stotras, and chapters, gaining an invaluable treasure of Sanskrit knowledge that lasts a lifetime.
# Method of Implementation—
- This curriculum is to be implemented as a Supplementary program. It can be taught without disrupting the regular functioning of schools.
- Each school is to establish a Shlokapathan Kendra (Shloka Recitation Center) to implement this curriculum.
- Schools can easily execute this curriculum without any hindrance to daily activities during daily prayers or by organizing special recitation sessions every Saturday under the Anandi Shanivar' (Happy Saturday) initiative.
- To motivate students at the Shlokapathan Kendra and to maintain consistency in recitation, Sanskrit Bharati organizes an annual Shlokapathan Competition. Schools can register their participation in this voluntarily
- Information regarding the Shlokapathan Kendra and the Shlokapathan Competition is provided on the following pages--