The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya is a unit of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur which
has its Headquarters at P.O. Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal. Since its start in 1958, it has been a
residential school for boys established on the foundation of the high ideals of Swami Vivekananda,
implementing the man-making and character-building ideals of education as propounded by him.
The Vidyalaya is envisioned in the image of Indian gurukul system where precious traditions and
cherished values of the past and modern educational concepts have been integrated. It presents a
synthesis of all that is best of the eastern and western models of education. It follows the trail as a
paradigm of excellence to promote its culture and tradition. The green natural surroundings have given
it a special identity. The Vidyalaya, its students and staff all enjoy the blessings of Sri Ramakrishna
and the Holy Mother, Sri Sri Saradadevi.
Till 1975, it was the only school in West Bengal which offered instructions in six streams, viz.
Science, Humanities, Agriculture, Technical, Commerce and Fine Arts. Thereafter, the Vidyalaya was
converted into a Secondary School under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, with Bengali and
English as medium of instructions. Since 2005 the plus-two (Higher Secondary) Course has been introduced
in the Vidyalaya with only Science subjects viz. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology / Statistics
along with compulsory Bengali and English. The new Higher Secondary Course has got due affiliation from
the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. Further addition depends on the availability of
accommodations and other amenities.
The Vidyalaya consists of two separate campuses, each with its own school building and hostels. The boys
of the junior classes stay in Junior Section campus. They have a nice three-storeyed school building and
three hostels. They also have their own extensive play ground, a library specially meant for young
readers and a small auditorium for cultural activities. The boys of senior classes are put up in the
Senior Section campus where they have their own facilities. They have a large two-storeyed school
building, six hostels and workshop. There are also playgrounds, a stadium, a gymnasium, a spacious
auditorium and a library. About 850 students are on the roll of the Vidyalaya at present.
Students come here from different parts of India. They also have different religious faiths. Some of
them belong to scheduled castes and tribes. Students can choose either Bengali or Hindi as the first
language, there being separate classes for the purpose. The staff and students coming from different
regions of India live here as members of one family. Narendrapur has turned into a miniature India, so
to say.