Sathya Sai Baba has fostered a unique approach to education called Educare, drawing out divine qualities of truth, right conduct, peace, love, and non-violence which are latent within the individual. Educare aligns the heart, head, and hands. True education must in Sai Baba’s words, “broaden the heart and expand one’s love.” True education is “that which fosters the sense of oneness, draws out one’s divine qualities, and promotes the blossoming of human personality.”
Inspired by the teachings of Sai Baba, the Sai Spiritual Education (Bal Vikas) program was established in India in 1969 to teach the country’s spiritual heritage to children of devotees. Later to be known as Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) outside India, the program promoted Unity of Religions, the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, and stories about the life of Sathya Sai Baba. By the 1980s the SSE program was also adapted to foster human and spiritual values in children of parents who were not devotees without the focus on a specific spiritual leader. This new program called Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV) is taught in community and after-school settings.
In the United States, SSE classes are held once a week between September to June following the regular school year. SSE classes are associated with a Sathya Sai Baba center at a suitable location in keeping with the spirit of the program.
There are 10 regions in the US with over 100 SSE programs at Sai centers. The program has grown to over 3000 children with over 750 volunteer teachers and coordinators who dedicate their time and energy to create a vibrant program for the children.
Onsite SSE classes
Onsite SSE classes are organized by the Sai center and held weekly at a time and place suitable to the participating families. The SSE program is an integral part of the Sai center and is for the children associated with the Sai center.
Students are enrolled in the program in four SSE groups according to the grades they are attending in secular school:
- SSE group 1- Grades 1 through 3
- SSE group 2- Grades 4 through 6
- SSE group 3- Grades 7 through 9
- SSE group 4- Grades 10 through 12
The SSE coordinator organizes the students into classes with trained teachers. A special study group is conducted for parents and at least one parent is expected to participate each week.
Online SSE classes
The online SSE program supports students who are unable to attend a center for various reasons (e.g., no center nearby). This special program is not a substitute for the in-class program so if you have the opportunity please attend an SSE program at a center nearby.
Please find the details of the program in this Online SSE Program Description.
You can apply to this program if you would like your child to be considered. There are a limited number of seats and we consider students on a case by case basis. Please fill out the registration form shown below:
SSE lessons
SSE Lessons are focused around a main human value and/or a related value or sub-value. The lesson plan includes Prayer, Silent Sitting, Devotional Singing, Introduction of the Spiritual Principle/Value, Sai Baba’s Words on the Value, Story, and Discussion relating to the Value, Individual, and Group Activities, and Life Application Activities. An important extension of the lesson is the Life Application Activity, where students practice the value throughout the week.
For additional information, please email [email protected].