When Bhagavan declared His Divine Avathar at the age of fourteen, He visualized a world of peace and happiness. It is His concern for the good of entire mankind and for the re-establishment of 'Sanathana Dharma' that He took human form . In 1947 Bhagawan declared that His Sanathana Dharma rests on the pillars of SATHYA, DHARMA, SHANTI, PREMA and AHIMSA. These are the Primordial Principles of Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas programme, which Bhagawan launched in 1969.
Balvikas is not just an education for children. It is the essence of all spiritual knowledge. It is Educare for Loka Vikas.
The ultimate aim of Balavikas is to let the child realize that Divinity dwells in him. The child is ignorant that he or she is Divine though pure at heart, soft in physique, tender in mind and nascent in intellect. What you sow, so you will reap. It is here that the teaching techniques assume importance. All the techniques are meant to achieve the two important goals mentioned above. Essence of education and knowledge have been clearly emphasized by Swami as
The end of education is character'
The end of knowledge is Love
For each age group, from young children to teen-age youth the Bal Vikas Guru takes on a specific role linked to psychological development of the child. For Group I, it is that of a mother: discipline established and good behaviour is positively rewarded. In Group II, the teacher takes on the formal teacher's role and the children develop a sense of order and respect for rules. Finally in group III, the teacher is a friend helping the children to develop firm principles and become actively aware of their conscience. In Group I learning is attained through 'doing and making', in Group-II 'doing and thinking' and in Group III 'Planning and Achieving'.