The Sathya Sai School in Toronto scores a perfect 10 in academic excellence, along with 36 other schools in Ontario.

[Guest guest]

Sathya Sai School of Canada scores a perfect 10 in academic excellence February 13,

2007 Fraser Institute ranks it among top 37 schools in Ontario For a school that has the unique distinction of being the only one of its kind in Canada and the United States of America, its recent rating among the top schools of Ontario comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with its vision. A unique learning model that aims to balance character education with academic excellence, the Sathya Sai School of Canada made national headlines this past weekend. The Fraser Institute, an independent Canadian research and educational organization with international partners in over 70 countries, has ranked the Sathya Sai School of Canada as one of the top 37 elementary schools in Ontario based on the school's outstanding academic results in the Grade 3 & Grade 6 EQAO tests for the school year 2005/2006. The Sathya Sai School tied for first place with 36 other public, separate and private elementary schools scoring a perfect 10 out of 10 in the Institute's overall rating for academic performance. The rankings were published in the Fraser Institute's publication Report Card on Ontario's Elementary Schools, 2007 Edition which rates 2,812 English and French, public and separate elementary schools from across Ontario based on nine key indicators derived from province-wide tests of reading, writing, and mathematics skills administered by the province’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Apart from the Sathya Sai School of Canada only one other private school has made it to the top position. The study can be viewed at its website www.fraserinstitute.ca. The overall rating out of 10 is based on the school's performance on nine indicators, all of which are derived from province-wide tests of reading, writing, and mathematics administered by the province's Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). The 9 indicators include: (1) average level of achievement on the grade 3 EQAO assessment in reading, writing and mathematics; (2) average level of achievement on the grade 6 EQAO assessments in reading, writing and mathematics;

(3) the difference between male and female students in their average levels of achievement on the EQAO assessment in grade 6 reading; (4) the difference between male and female students in their average levels of achievement on the EQAO assessment in grade 6 mathematics; (5) the percentage of EQAO assessments that did not meet the provincial standard. According to the Institute these indicators provide systematic insight into a school's performance, and because they are generated annually, they can help assess not only each school's performance in a year but also its improvement or deterioration over time. In the eyes of the authors of this study, these critical subject areas are indicators of effective teaching, and the comparison of

results of male and female students in two subject areas – reading and mathematics – in which one group or the other has enjoyed an historical advantage, and it is used to gauge the extent to which schools provide effective teaching to all of their students. With this superior rating, the school inspired and founded by universal teacher and humanitarian Sri Sathya Sai Baba has emerged as a key player in the field of academic excellence on the Canadian national scene. Yet, its academic success is only a part of the many laurels the school has won within its young life of a mere 6 years. Founding Principal of the Sathya Sai School of Canada, Mr. T.R. Pillay, is pleased that the report validates not only the excellent work of the teachers, and the calibre of the students, but also the school's mission to balance character education with academic excellence. “Parents should find this high ranking of the school reassuring and further proof that the Sathya Sai ideals of education and its unique school climate bring out the best in their children. I am convinced that if our students were tested on moral issues and ethical values, they would shine with equal brilliance.” Mr. Pillay gives credit to the school's character education program, the only one of its kind in North America, for the students’ wholesome attitude to learning and service to the community. In his message, he further attributes the successful delivery of this unique program to the highly trained and dedicated educators who serve the Sathya Sai School of Canada with unparalleled levels of commitment and sacrifice, drawing their inspiration directly from the personal example of the greatest teacher of our times, Sri Sathya Sai Baba. In a congratulatory message to the Principal Dr. Revathi, school trustee Dr. S. Evani of Abbotsford, British Columbia, wrote: “This is great news. Even though we always knew our children are stellar in their performance, it is nice to be validated in the national arena. I am very proud of our school, our children, our teachers and our administrators for doing a fantastic job. Please extend my congratulations to each and every one. Keep up the good work.” In his loving message of congratulation, school Trustee and Treasurer Dr. Pon Sivaji congratulated all the staff members, students and volunteers of the school, thanking them for their dedication, adding “your hard work cannot be measured in dollar value.” At the Sathya Sai School of Canada, we owe our successes to the unique Sathya Sai Education in Human Values program that inspires our school community made up of students, teachers, volunteers, parents, trustees, supporters and friends, to work in unity and love, to explore our individual potential and

aim for excellence in all our endeavours. As Sri Sathya Sai Baba reminds us, education is for life, not merely for earning a living. Even as a good report card is welcome news, it is only a part of our greater goal that is summed up in the vision of our Founder Sri Sathya Sai Baba and in the motto of our school, namely “The end of education is character.” Source: www.sathyasai.org/news/2007/TorontoschoolRanking.doc