“Traditional schooling can cause harm to children and most parents understand that” - Pathanjali

Yasodhara, co-founder, Independent Collective School

In January 2024, the Independent Collective School (ICS) became Sri Lanka’s first formal educational establishment for alternative education. The School opened doors to a diverse group of children, with inclusive education at its core. As such, the School witnessed many children with learning difficulties also becoming part of its culture. Its curriculum differed to that to an ordinary school, providing a project-based learning experience with various unconventional subjects such as animal rights and welfare.  

Reflecting on the journey over the past year, ICS co-founder Yasodhara Pathanjali sat down with the Daily Mirror to speak about the experience, what she has learned, the challenges and opportunities she encountered while sharing what’s in store for students in 2025. 

Excerpts: 

 How has the journey been at ICS over the past one year?

The journey of Independent Collective School (ICS) over the past year has been unbelievable, rewarding and a huge learning curve. As Sri Lanka’s first modern school, we have successfully redefined education by integrating real-world skills, emotional intelligence, and experiential learning into the school experience while delivering a personalised Cambridge curriculum for all our students. 

A year on from the launch, having witnessed the massive development of each of our students, it is now very clear that this is the kind of education that every child in the world deserves. It has been a journey of affirmation of our mission to create a meaningful and engaging learning environment that truly develops and nurtures students without killing their own interests, needs or natural talents. 

The amazing support from parents, the enthusiasm of our students (who don’t like holidays, because school is where they always want to be), and the dedication of our team have made this inaugural year feel like a dream. 

“The progress we have observed in our students has been remarkable and across the board. Beyond academic growth, students have shown significant improvement in their soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. Many have embraced values like empathy and responsibility, which are integral to our curriculum

 As a school that has pioneered innovative approaches to education, what sort of progress have you observed in students?

The progress we have observed in our students has been remarkable and across the board. Beyond academic growth, students have shown significant improvement in their soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. Many have embraced values like empathy and responsibility, which are integral to our curriculum. We’ve also seen greater self-discipline and ownership of their learning journeys. Students are not only developing a deeper understanding of the subjects they study but are also applying these lessons in practical, meaningful ways. The confidence they exude when tackling challenges is a testament to the effectiveness of our approach.

Children are allowed to get a practical experience of the subjects being taught

The Independent Collective School (ICS) became Sri Lanka’s first formal educational establishment for alternative education

The play school built amidst a green setting

 What has been the feedback from parents?

Parent feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have expressed their appreciation for our focus on holistic development, project-based learning, and the integration of skills that prepare their children for real-world success. Parents particularly value how we prioritize emotional intelligence and adaptability, ensuring their children are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world. For many parents, we have been able to provide hope and relief when it comes to their children’s education. Most parents in today’s world understand the devastating harm that traditional schooling can cause to their child, and they are relieved to find that Sri Lanka finally has options that can deliver this kind of modern education. Most importantly, they see their children excited about learning, happy in being themselves and developing skills and confidence like never before. 

“We are expanding our offerings in STEM, Artificial Intelligence, and creative arts to ensure our students are well-prepared for future opportunities. Our curriculum will also include more community-based projects to deepen their connection with real-world issues. Additionally, we’re introducing new extracurricular activities like journalism, fitness, and advanced public speaking to further broaden their horizons

 What were the challenges and opportunities you encountered during the past year?

Like any pioneering initiative, our journey was not without challenges. Our team is always unlearning and re-learning, a process that for us will never end. This in itself is a challenge as we can never sit back and say that we have not arrived at one solution. 

Because with each student, with each scenario, the solution and the need will be different. So keeping an open mind, being always ready to pivot, to listen and to learn more is something that as a team we always strive to maintain. However, these challenges are also opportunities. They encouraged us to refine our methods, build stronger relationships with parents, and innovate continuously. Always being ready to listen and to innovate has been the biggest challenge and blessing for us in 2024. 

 What’s in store for students in 2025?

The upcoming year promises to be even more exciting and enriching for our students. We are expanding our offerings in STEM, Artificial Intelligence, and creative arts to ensure our students are well-prepared for future opportunities. Our curriculum will also include more community-based projects to deepen their connection with real-world issues. Additionally, we’re introducing new extracurricular activities like journalism, fitness, and advanced public speaking to further broaden their horizons. We will see our students expand their thrift shop into a supermarket open to the public, and hopefully more students start their own businesses too. A year ago we could not have imagined the achievements of our students in 2024, so it doesn’t feel right to guess what they will achieve in 2025. Whatever they reach for, ICS will be there to support, guide and nurture them to success.