Day 19 – Q 1.What changes can be introduced in the curricula of schools and colleges to inculcate values in students? Suggest.

1. What changes can be introduced in the curricula of schools and colleges to inculcate values in students? Suggest.   

स्कूलों और कॉलेजों के पाठ्यक्रम में छात्रों में मूल्यों को बढ़ाने के लिए क्या बदलाव लाए जा सकते हैं? सुझाव दें।

Introduction:

Education is a powerful instrument of social change and human progress; it is also a powerful tool to cultivate values in an individual. Human development cannot be conceived in the absence of values. Therefore, all the educational institutes have greater responsibility to impart learning and cultivation of values through education.

Body:  

 Ways to inculcate values to students in educational institutions:

• Informal value education: School is the basic stage in the process of socialisation and value education on a large scale begins here. Pro-social behaviour and informal infuse of value education can be directed among the kids in their day-to-day interaction with each other. Ex: During sports hour, involving kids in team sports, encouraging group lunches to develop a sense of sharing etc.
• Planned value education training for teachers:  Teachers pass on values to the students both consciously and unconsciously through their conduct in and out of class rooms. Hence, a formal learning and training to teachers will help them serve as role model to students and preach values in an optimum manner.
• Deliberate impart of values through other subjects: Different subjects can help inculcate various values imbibed in them, when explained and presented well. 

For example: National Movement can be taught in such a way that it leads to inculcate the values of patriotism, secularism, universal love and tolerance etc. Similarly, World History can help to inculcate values of Liberty, equality and fraternity (French Revolution), Fundamental Rights and equality (American Revolution); Science can help to inculcate values of scientific temper, appreciation towards laws of nature; Indian Civics can help to inculcate values of respect to constitution, respect for democracy, secularism, integrity and unity of the country, social, political and economic justice etc. Geography and environment can help to inculcate values of respect for other’s culture and protecting the environment and compassion for animals, plants etc.

• Publication of literature based on values: Libraries and extra-reading can provide for inspiring literatures and famous biographies. For example, Mahatma Gandhi in his biography insists on truth, non-violence and Satyagraha encouraging the basic human values.
• Provision of value based curriculum and Value based foundation courses: Every week can have a special period or hour for specific value based curriculum. Students can be encouraged or taught inspiring stories of noble leaders, given assignments to summarize value-based stories or their understanding, conduct creative plays and skits to showcase values etc.  Some private schools have a skit day every month, on a competitive, yet friendly basis to creatively present famous instances or stories which propagate different values.
• Creation of extra-curricular clubs, groups: Clubs and group activities prove to be more efficient when it comes to sharing of values or building of peer relationships. Schools and colleges can have clubs as a part of their curricula to encourage wholesome and affirmative growth of peer relationships, which in turn builds an individual’s character and shapes it thoroughly.

Way forward:

• A robust and an integrated policy to include value education in the mainstream will go a long way in a student’s moral development.
• The present government’s decision to roll out a ‘uniform’ and ‘Common Minimum Programme for Value Education’ for implementation across India’s entire schooling system, in the 2019-20 academic session is a welcome step in this regard.
• Value Education will be complemented by modules on Life Skills Education linked up with government’s flagship Ayushman Bharat as well as Experiential Learning. Students, teachers as well as schools will be assessed on Value Education through a non-marks based approach.

Conclusion:

Value education is rooted in Indian philosophy and culture and ingrained in every tradition of Indian culture. Promoting Value based education can definitely contribute to building the young demographic capital of India, as the field of value education is as broad as life itself and touches every aspect of human life, personality and education.