Global Good News: Excellence in Action

Maharishi School in Melbourne, Australia first opened in January 1997 with just twenty students. During that year it gained official registration to operate as a primary school and became a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria. It was founded to provide Consciousness-Based Education for students in Melbourne.

The purpose of Consciousness-Based Education is to offer a system of complete knowledge that promotes the full development of consciousness for every student. The foundation of this approach to education is Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation Programme, a profound and proven educational technology. Through its daily practise students experience their own pure intelligence, pure consciousness, and grow in the direction of gaining the fruit of all knowledge—a life free from mistakes, with the ability to know anything, do anything, and achieve right action spontaneously.

Testimonials from educators:

'Excellent overall effort . . . informative and creative. Very good group presentation and communication skills.'
—Science Talent Search judge.

'Although the children come from diverse backgrounds, they have one thing in common: they have greater self-awareness and seem to think at a deeper level.'
—Teacher

'This approach is unique because it focuses not only on the known and the process of knowing, which are the focus of all schools, but gives equal emphasis to the knower, the student. I was delighted with what I saw and was reminded of many natural truths about the world, the human race, and myself.'
—Visiting teacher.

Testimonials from students:

'Our school is a peace school. We like to make everyone feel part of the group.'
—Year 5

'I love my art lessons at Maharishi School. When I draw, it makes me feel happy on the inside. And when I'm happy, I'm healthy!'
—Year 4.

'Here we do Transcendental Meditation which helps a lot, because it reduces stress and makes you feel more calm.'
—Year 6

'I was very well prepared for high school, both academically and socially.'
—Maharishi School Graduate.

Testimonials from parents:

'Maharishi School is giving my children not only a solid base of learning skills, but also the self-esteem and self-knowledge to make positive choices for themselves throughout their lives.'

'My children are a lot more confident and people often mention how radiant they both look.'

'The beautiful, calm, and nurturing environment creates the perfect atmosphere for learning and growing.'

The basis of the success of the Maharishi School in Melbourne is developing the 'knower'

Traditionally, education has focused primarily on what students study—the objective aspect of knowledge, the known. Very little attention has been given to developing the abilities of the student to learn and the teacher to teach. Education has lacked a systematic means of developing the full value of the knower and processes of knowing, making the acquisition of complete knowledge impossible.

The quality of the student's awareness—their intelligence, creativity, and receptivity to knowledge; their sense of self and confidence in their own capabilities; their ability to comprehend broadly and deeply—are fundamental to successful educational outcomes. Truly successful education cannot lie solely in what the students learn or in what they are taught. Ultimately, the degree of success in education lies within the consciousness of each student.

Whereas other methods and programmes depend for their effectiveness on whatever receptivity, intelligence, creativity, or neurophysiological integration the students may already have, this system of education directly develops these characteristics in all students irrespective of their background, attitudes, beliefs, gender, or abilities.

Please visit also Maharishi School in Fairfield Iowa, USA and Maharishi School in Lancashire, England.

"The potential of every student is infinite. The time of student life should serve to unfold that infinite potential so that every individual becomes a vibrant centre of Total Knowledge."—Maharishi