Happy and concentrated children learn and feel better at schools. Evidence that educational outcome depends on the state of mind of the learner forms the bases for meaningful educational reform.
There are schools in the USA, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, India, Australia, Vietnam, Nepal, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Israel where Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice is incorporated into regular school days.
Better behaviour, better abilities
Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural and effortless mental technique practiced twice a day for 20 minutes. It is easy to learn from a qualified teacher (it only takes 1-2 hours on 4 consecutive days) and enjoyable to practice independently hence forth. Read more about Transcendental Meditation 
The reasons why schools with curricular Transcendental Meditation practice have high achievements in academics and extracurricular activities can be related to two factors.
First, Transcendental Meditation reduces stress. When students are less stressed they learn better and behave better. Second, TM practice improves brain functioning, making learning much easier.
Reseach: college students
Numerous studies with college students demonstrate that Transcendental Meditation practice:
- increases brain coherence in measures correlated with improved cognitive functioning [1] [2]
- reduces stress, anxiety and depression [3] [4]
- reduces sleepiness [1]
Research: middle and high school students
3 randomized experiments compared the effect Transcendental Meditation, napping and contemplative meditation had on high school students. It was concluded that TM practice improved student test scores in:
- ability to successfully reason in new situations
- speed of information processing
- ability to achieve and maintain emotional and physical well-being, succeed in work, love, social relationships
- a cluster of traits including cognitive functioning, personality and social behaviour
- balanced use of cognitive, affective and volitional domains (traits like comprehension, analysis, curiosity, unconventionality, synthesis, and risk/avoidance)
- anxiety (with Transcendental Meditation practice anxiety reduced)
Napping had no effect on the scores and contemplative meditation group improved only two tests results (measuring speed of information processing and cluster of traits including cognitive functioning, personality and social behaviour). [5]
In a study with 15-18 years-old students, 4 months of Transcendental Meditation practice resulted in less:
- absenteeism
- rule infraction
- suspension days
In control group, all variables increased during the same period. [6]
In one qualitative report, middle school students themselves described the changes Transcendental Meditation practice brought along:
“I am relaxed and I can concentrate more.”
“If I meditate, I feel calm and feel like I don’t have to argue with anybody.”
“I used to be mad and frustrated but now I’m just calm and happy.”
Students also reported improved grades. [7]
Another recent study looked at the change of California Standards Tests (CST) results of public middle school students with below grade level academic achievement scores.
After 3 months of Transcendental Meditation practice there was significant improvement in both English and Math scores among meditating students compared to students in the control group. [8]
Research: preschoolers and elementary school students
For children aged 4-9, there exists a form of Transcendental Meditation practice suitable for their age called the Word of Wisdom technique. Compared to controls, preschoolers and elementary school students practicing either Transcendental Meditation or Word of Wisdom, improved on following variables:
