Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Visakhapatnam

Doorasikshanam ( Virtual Classes )

                      The purpose of this pioneering program is to deliver quality instruction in academia along with value based education, using modern technology, to students in rural areas for free where the educational infrastructure including school facilities, teachers, etc. is not as good as their urban counterparts. In this program, the Teachers teach from the Main Center located in the Ashrama campus in Visakhapatnam and interact live with students assembled at remote centers located in rural areas. 


These tutoring classes are designed to supplement the instruction students receive at their regular schools in Science, Math, English - not to replace it. Along with academic instructions, these virtual classes also impart moral, social, spiritual and value-based man-making ideas by strengthening their knowledge in the fields of Sanskrit, Yoga, Subhashitas (Sanskrit poems) including the presentation of Personality Development Videos. The program thus holistically uplifts the self-confidence of the remote and rural area students, thus enabling them to prepare themselves for various competitive exams and face the challenges of the world with greater preparedness. 


This program was patterned on a similar project running under the auspices of Vivekananda University located near the Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission at Belur Math, West Bengal. 


The project was inaugurated with the auspicious blessings of   Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, on 1st March 2020 with 3 remote centers and the main center at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama in Visakhapatnam. Subsequently, 10 remote centers, including the original three, are in full operation as of 1st December 2020. The centers span various locations from Guntur district to Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh.

 

Doorasikshanam (virtual classrooms) program is sponsored by Balavikas of Fairfax, Virginia, USA, envisioned to bring high-quality instruction through academic and character development classes to children located in rural/ semi-urban locations typically lacking the facilities available in large city schools. 


Starting with 125 students at 3 centers in March 2020, the program presently reaches 351 students, who are being served at 10 remote centers spanning several districts in northern and middle Andhra Pradesh. It is noteworthy that this remarkable expansion occurred despite the pandemic-related shutdowns and other restrictions. This was possible due to the unwavering dedication and hard work of the teachers, monks of Ramakrishna Mission, parents, Ramakrishna Bhava Prachara Parishad members and committed selfless volunteers.


Extra-Curricular activities

This program in its mission to enrich the lives of its participants also conducted a summer camp for all students, wherein the Doorashikshana students were able to attend the summer camp. The following activities for children were organized:

 1. Yoga and Meditation.

 2. Intelligent games.

 3. Art and Craft.

 4. Personality Development.

 5. Memory and Concentration.

 6. Bhajans and Chantings.

 7. Value Education.

 8. Inspirational video presentation.

 

Doorashikshana students are very happy to study with the teaching faculty hailing from far-flung areas and learning in a modern setup enabled with technology at par with well-equipped mainstream schools. The responsiveness from local people is very good. Though there are some problems with accessing the internet in remote rural places, the nodal points where students gather for online classes are selected based on the availability of internet facilities.

 

A growing network of 10 remote Doorasikshanam centers (Virtual Classrooms) and the main center at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Visakhapatnam are functioning well serving several hundred, and growing numbers of children.