Redhotcurry - News. Britain to fund first Hindu State School.

The Government has announced that Harrow, a suburb of London, is to get the first state funded Hindu School in Britain. The funding of £9.8millon will be used to establish the school in Harrow which is likely to open in 2008 at the earliest. Nitesh Gor, from the I-Foundation whose bid was successful said: "We are clearly delighted by this news. This paves the way for the first Hindu faith school in the UK. Our intent is to ensure that the school is fully integrated and working in synergy with the local community and schools.

Harrow has a significantly large Hindu population, 20 per cent of Harrow residents are Hindu , some 40,000 people, the highest percentage for any local authority in the country.

Cllr Navin Shah, leader of Harrow Council said:” This is excellent news as Harrow will become the home for the first state funded faith school in the country. This is only right as Harrow has the largest percentage of Hindu population in the country. The groundbreaking news has therefore tremendous significance to our large Hindu community in Harrow. I am proud of Harrow’s multicultural community and the faith school will meet the well-demonstrated needs and aspirations of the Hindu community.

Their motivation was twofold: first, the belief that Hindu families, like those of other great religions, should have the chance to choose a publicly funded school for their children; second, a growing desire to anchor Hindu children more securely to the central principles of their faith.

"In recent years, we have seen a slow but steady deterioration of cultural and spiritual values in the Hindu community," says Nitesh Gor, a director of the I-Foundation. "In the 1960s and 1970s, when Hindu communities were establishing themselves in the UK, there was a concentration on material endeavour, and our values were not the prime focus."

The aim of the school will thus be to re-establish Hindu values, and to ensure that emerging generations follow the tenets of the religion and its approach to life. This echoes similar arguments put forward by leaders of other minority faiths in support of their applications for publicly funded schools.

At the moment, alongside more than 6,000 Church of England and Catholic state schools in the country, there are 45 Jewish, five Islamic, two Sikh, one Greek Orthodox and one Seventh Day Adventist school in the UK.

The Council will be working closely with the proposer of the school The I-Foundation, as well as consulting with the local community and the local schools. The new school has pledged to become a full and active partner with our other local schools involving itself in inter-school activities; outreach and community work with local residents and children of all faiths and cultural background.

The Hindu faith school will be yet another piece in the jigsaw of our culturally diverse and united communities.”

Cllr Bill Stephenson, portfolio holder for education and lifelong learning said: “I am delighted by this excellent news. Not only do we have a grant for nearly £10 million for a Hindu faith school but we also have £1.3 million for an extended school initiative for St Joseph’s school.

This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the I-Foundation, LEA officers and others. However, this is just the beginning and there is a lot more to do before the Hindu faith school becomes a reality.

It is important to emphasise that the school will be an integral part of a partnership and a mosaic of local schools working with everyone irrespective of faith and cultural background.”

The Hindu Forum of Britain said "This is great news for British Hindus and Councillor Navin Shah, Leader of the London Borough of Harrow deserves our deepest appreciation along with appreciation to the local MP and great friend of the Hindu community Tony McNulty MP Home Office Minister, as well as leaders of the Conservative and Lib-Dem Groups, without whose support this would not have been achieved."

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