Role of educational institutions in inculcating values

The prime concern of education is to evolve the good, the true and the divine in man so as to establish a moral life in the world. It should essentially make a man pious, perfect and truthful. The welfare of humanity lies neither in scientific or technological advancements nor in acquisition of material comforts. The main function of education is to enrich the character. What we need today more than anything else is moral leadership founded on courage, intellectual integrity and a sense of values.

Since education is a powerful instrument of social change and human progress, it is also a powerful tool to cultivate values in an individual. Therefore all the educational institutes have greater responsibility to impart learning and cultivation of values through education.

For inculcating values many educationists have suggested different ideas such as

• Provision of value based curriculum
• Designing special orientation program for teachers
• Value based foundation courses
• Publication of literature based on values
• Necessity to develop code of conduct for teachers and students
• Inculcation of philosophical view towards life among teachers and students.

Further to cultivate values among the new generations we are to design a curriculum from out of our accumulated cultural heritage

Importance of Value Education

Value Education awakens curiosity, development of proper interests, attitudes, values and capacity to think and judge about oneself. It helps in Promoting Social and Natural Integration.

Objectives of Value Education

Value education should aim at the development of values of the following type.

• Scientific temper of mind.
• Large heartedness.
• Co-operation.
• Tolerance
• Respect for the culture of other groups.

Value Education and India

Value education is rooted in Indian philosophy and culture and ingrained in every tradition of Indian culture. The Vedas and Upanishads form the source of inspiration for value education. In the Vedic period, in Ashram system of education, the Guru insisted his pupil to follow certain values throughout his life.

University education commission 1948-49 mentioned the various aspects of morality as: loyalty, courage, discipline, self-sacrifice and spirituality.

The Secondary Education Commission 1952-53 laid special emphasis on the following values in the formation of character of the students:

• Efficiency
• Good Temper
• Cooperation
• Integrity
• Discipline

Ways to make value education more effective

There are several ways to make value education more effective. Firstly, the moral awareness should be endorsed to orient the progress in science & technology towards the welfare of mankind. Secondly, common values should be re-discovered to unite human beings with the general decline of traditional values. Thirdly, teachers pass values to the students both consciously and unconsciously through their conduct in and out of class rooms. Therefore the need for a consciously planned value education program is obvious to establish a formal learning. Fourthly, tudents might face more complicated decision making situations about issues involving values. They should be helped in developing the ability to make proper choices in such situations through value education. Fifthly, increase in Juvenile delinquency is a crisis to youth who under goes the process of personal growth. In such situation value education assumes a special significance.

Inculcation of values in Educational Institutions

In school, children are members of a small society that exerts a tremendous influence on their moral development. Teachers serve as role model to students in school; they play a major role in inculcating their ethical behaviour.

At the same time, peers at school may also diffuse boldness about cheating, lying, stealing, and consideration for others. Though there are rules and regulations, the educational institutions infuse the value education to the children in an informal way. They play a major role in developing pro-social behaviour in children.

The most common steps which can be taken in educational institutions to inculcate values include:

Teaching Accountability

The children should be encouraged to be accountable for their own actions and should learn to respect and treat others kindly.

Playing Role model

The teachers are the first role model to the children outside their family. When the children sees the model showing concern for others, motivating them for their good deeds and cooperating and helpful with their academic issues, the children learn them by observing and imitate it with fellow peers.

Teaching Basic morals and values

The children are taught basic morals and values in school. They should be taught by emphasizing the idea through many activities, stories and tales, which will encourage them to engage in more helping behaviours.

Appreciation

The teacher should appreciate the children for developing pro-social behaviour, especially for any specific action they have done to help others.

For Children with weaker moral development

Children’s ability to develop a relationship with peers is critical to their wellbeing. These children have difficulty in understanding social or nonverbal cues and they lack the ability to reason. The teachers play a role in helping these rejected children learn to listen to peers and “hear what they say” instead of trying to dominate peers.

Neglected children are helped to attract and hold their attention from peers. They are taught to ask questions, listen, and help them to establish interest groups or clubs where they integrate in a positive way.

Value Education through Schools

School is the basic stage in the process of socialisation and value education takes place at school level as the child is exposed to friends, teachers, syllabus and various extra-curricular activities.

Further, values cannot be taught like abstract subjects like history, science or math. However, they can be inculcated only through situations deliberately planned while teaching the subjects. 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. Further, math can help in inculcating the values of honesty and integrity; Geography and environment can help to inculcate values of respect for other’s culture, and world is one family {Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam}.

At the same time, teachings from the biographies of the great and noble leaders also inculcate the inspiring values among the students and people at large. For example, Mahatma Gandhi’s insistence on truth, non-violence and satyagraha teaches the basic human values.

Last but not the least, the education about constitution, particularly preamble; fundamental rights and duties gives out what values should be fostered through education.