In times of intense competition, schools have started devising innovative ways of easing pressure and tension to ensure that students do well in their boards. Concentration classes, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) initiative for civic-run schools, is aimed exactly at that.

The civic body recently started “concentration classes” for 6,000 children from its 49 secondary schools who will appear for SSC next year.

Called “Anapana Sati”, the classes are based on the vipassana meditation technique. “Anapana Sati is a Pali word and implies the awareness of incoming and outgoing breadth. It’s a technique wherein one needs to observe one’s natural breath,” said Mrudula Modi, volunteer, Vipassana International Academy (Igatpuri-Nasik).

The benefits, explained Modi, are several—it improves concentration and memory, increases self-confidence, develops awareness and purifies the mind.

“The idea is to offer alternative solutions instead of making children cram their lessons or attend tuitions unnecessarily which many can't even afford,” she said.

Children's course teachers (CCT)-volunteers from the academy-have divided the schools into three phases. “Once we finish teaching the Std X students, the BMC and the academy have taken a joint decision to gradually cover all children studying in its schools and schedules will be prepared accordingly,” said Urmila Lunvara, an academy member.

Ganpat Kadam Marg School, Dixit Road School, Malad (West) School, New Sion School, N M Joshi School, Prabhadevi School and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar School are among those covered in the first phase that started in October-end.

“I spoke with children and the classes have benefited them. They certainly seem to have developed more confidence and are able to concentrate more. If they practise regularly, there should be a visible positive change in their results,” said Malad (West) Secondary School principal Gangurde Jayashree.

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