Guru Nanak Language, Cultural and Religious Academy
Guru Nanak Language, Cultural and Religious academy has around 250 students on its roll. We often find that in Year One the classes are oversubscribed. Due to the limited number of space available to us we are only able to register about 62 children who must be in Year Three of their primary school. We start admissions in June of every year (see bottom for contact information).
The teaching provided to the children is of the highest quality with a curriculum based around language learning and teaching. A key role for the academy is to promote an understanding of the Sikh faith, Punjabi language and Cultural heritage. A strong belief within the academy and the community is that the children need to be able to make use of their language in keeping in contact with the land of their forefathers and also to be able to understand the Sikh faith and its scriptures.
The Guru Nanak Gurdwara Committee has promoted this ethos with strong support for the academy and its staff both materially and morally. During the last academic year, 2004/5, forty five children took the GCSE exam in Punjabi. All the students who sat the exam were successful in gaining a good pass, with grades A to C.
Gravesham Mayor Ray Parker presents Punjabi GCSE certificates
The curriculum breakdown for the academy is given below:
Year One: Students learn the individual sounds for Punjabi letters. They learn to use how to make two and three letter words using Punjabi symbols and characters. They are encouraged to speak in Punjabi and also taught to become well versed in the "Mool Mantar". This is the verse that is at the beginning of Guru Granth Sahib.
Year Two: Students learn to make sentences using simple two and three letter words. They are introduced to some principles of Sikhism such as the Five ‘K's. Students learn to name their relatives and to talk about themselves in Punjabi.
Year Three: This year is spent consolidating the learning of the first two years. They are encouraged to read and start writing in Punjabi. Different text books are used to encourage a wider reading habit and increase their general knowledge about Culture and Sikhism. They are encouraged to ask questions and provide answers in Punjabi.
Year Four: This year is the penultimate year before taking GCSE exams. Students are taught to write letters and stories in Punjabi. They are encouraged to speak to each other and give examples of conversations with others in Punjabi.
Year Five: This is the final year of the GCSE course and students are encouraged to become frequent and competent speakers and writers of Punjabi. They are encouraged to attend the Gurdwara regularly so that they can pick up Gurbaani and its meanings. Most of the children will progress naturally from GCSE to ‘A' Level in Punjabi while others are content to have achieved a GCSE. Students who show an aptitude for languages are encouraged to attempt the A' Level to complement their skills in reading and writing.
A new initiative that the Gurdwara committee has encouraged and supported is the provision of GCSE in Sikhism. This is the first year that classes have started. Currently there are seventeen students of mixed ages. It is hoped that at least ten of them will be taking the GCSE in June 2006. The students are required to understand the principles of Sikhism and be able to have a discussion and write about them. ‘A' Level in Sikhism is also supported and is taught by Bhai Ram Singh. He has done this for a number of years with enthusiasm and diligence. Many students have benefited from his wisdom and understanding.
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The Staff, who have responsibility for delivering the cirriculum with Mayor Ray Parker and Councillor Narinderjit Singh Thandi.
For enrollment, please contact Rajvinder Singh Gill on 01474 533736 (please call after 6pm)
