The Importance Of Value Based Education Nowadays
The mankind of society confronts or talks about value everyday and every single second whether in market, religious institution, educational institution and so on but none ready to use it in proper way. Nowadays we have been witnessed the erosion of values in every sphere of our life especially in politics, religion, education, business and so on. The acute crisis of values on such social institutions should be minimized as early as possible, among these the utmost priority should be given to education as only with education the masses of society are well connected and it is education through which easily we can spread the messages, information, and knowledge to society. If truth be told education is the vehicle of knowledge that helps you to learn social conduct, strength, character and self respect. Education is being considered as backbone and tool for the development of society as well as country as it provides knowledge, values, attitude, life skills that brings all round development of an individual. So such an important element of society remain valueless, today we see the erosion of values from the so called educated people who are more involved in corrupt practices, anti social activities, selfishness and so on. Every year millions of people earn degrees and become educated in several discipline but among them how many are sincere? Humanity is threatened, corruption, explosion are going on then what are the implications of such kinds of education in our society that’s why value based education is urgently needed and here the context and relevance of value oriented education is entrusted.
Concept of Values
Values have many meaning that can be interpreted differently by different viewpoints. The word value is first coined by Friedrich Nietzsche in 1880. Etymologically, the term ‘value’ derived from the Latin word ‘valere’ refers to something precious, worthwhile and dearness. But now the term value is being changed into other meaning related to the standard of life. It is now considered as the bundle of good qualities which the human being holds in their life to be a civilized being. It is quite popular with human being in fact this days value became integral part of our life which lead an individual to distinguish between wrong and right, good and bad deed. This is why it is considered as the guiding principles of life. Hence, we cannot dream for a polite society without value. Values are those which helps to make a well being society and works for social benefit by acquiring trainings, life skills, attitude and so on. More comprehensively it is something which is socially preferred. Even, the social development is wholly responsible to values. Simply, it is a set of guiding principles that make influence in our character, conduct and attitude.
Concept of Value-based Education
Value based education or value oriented education is that planned education which aimed to keep value in education system or curriculum for the betterment of society. In this organized education the effort is made to incorporate value in education system or curriculum for development of emotions, values, skills and proper attitudes of the students for their holistic development. The value based education accelerates to move towards certain profession even through it we can meet our real purposes of life. It is a teaching learning method that enables one individual to develop positive human values for the holistic life. If we could incorporate in our school curricula, then it could bring radical changes in attitude, behaviour of people positively. The importance of value based education was felt by several educationists and social reformers such as, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Kothari, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and so on. .
Necessity of Values in Human Life for Making Polite Society
“Values reflect what is important to the way you live and work.”
By highlighting the above quote the necessity of values in human life can be interpreted. In this present 21st century that is coined as the era of automation, globalisation and modernization, everything taking place fast and in dynamic way and we become more developed, independent and technologically advanced but interestingly human life goes worse than earlier. Today, everyone of the universe has experienced that values have degraded in society. People are not much concern about value and people are not much conscious and always denying its importance in society. As a result, people are forgetting the basic values of good human being or a responsible citizen for society. The loss or decline of humanity is a serious social threat that will bother the future development of country and one day it may bring questions on human survival, respect and authority. People are not giving heart to perform their task instead greedy mind has grown up. These all taking place due to lack of true value in religion, education. Many shameful activity and degradation of human values we find in most important places of society that are in schools, religious institutions and political associations and even in film industries. In such activities the so called educated teachers, Gurus or priest who are being worshiped by people, politicians who are representing society and the fathers of different churches are more involved.
What we observe or see in newspaper, news channel is that a girl child is being assaulted and harassed by her teacher, a priest is being involved in raping his own devotee, a politician is sexually harassing his assistant and followers, in the film industry also actors or directors involving sexual matters to their women partners and at the end we have seen the gurus or so called Baba are involved in raping a girl child or an woman. These all are outcome of deterioration of values in our life as well as our society, so is this called polite society? This is none other than indicating dark future of society.
If value does not take place in human life then evil will take place, when evil take place in life then society. If society suffers from evil diseases then nation cannot be developed as the citizen is corrupted and the corrupted citizens are the result of the erosion of values. In this context, Dr. Radhakrishnan’s thought can be reminded that a civilization is not built of bricks, steel and machinery; it is built with men, their quality and character. So value in life is highly essential and inevitable to have an auspicious and prosperous society.
Reason behind the erosion of values
Below is the brief discussion on probable causes or reasons in behind of deterioration of human values:
- Lack of Morality:
Lack of morality among might be a reason of value degrading, people are less concern about morality, and even they cannot judge what is right and wrong for them. So there should be specific moral vision for human being.
- Lack of leadership quality:
The inadequate leadership quality among the teachers is another reason of value deterioration. There should be proper place to impart the required leadership styles so that they can lead upcoming youths of nations.
- Lack of honesty:
People are not honest more they are using religion as their own property, there is no place of ideals and truth. Highest priority is given on wealth and power, no respect of human relations.
- Inadequate inclusion of ethics in syllabus:
The matter of ethics is not given priority in academic syllabi. People learn a matter or topic over the academic session but do not know the practical application or utilization. As a result, educated youths become unemployed and seek for job.
- Lack of co-scholastic activities in schools
There should be arrangement of co-scholastic activities in schools; such activities can enhance student’s life. Schools should organize debate, games and sports, literary activities so that social problems can be discussed.
Significance and need of Value Based Education
In this technology era value based education is urgently needed as human life became more worsen than earlier and social progress became disoriented. The significance of value based education can be understood by dint of studying the condition of our present society where almost every individual are drifting towards fulfilling their desires only. Even it has been alleged that the so called educated persons of society, doctors, engineers, politicians, and teachers have forgotten their obligations towards society. They do not look after the value instead they are hungry of money, power, wealth and much more. This is happening mostly for the lack of values. Without value based education the society cannot run smoothly. So simply we can consider current education system does not hold values at all. Hence there is urgent need of inclusion of values in education, religious, social services and politics and so on. Among them most priority to be given on education as it provides habits, skills, knowledge, values, attitude and knowledge.
Without value we cannot think about a sound and healthy society, if the society is surviving or moving forward then these all are the result of value. The preciousness of value cannot compare with any parameter or object. The aim of value based education is to develop different intellect of an individual that are physical, spiritual, intellectual and ethical. The students should be taught such kind of education in their academics so that they become prepare for upcoming challenges of society. From different research reports it became evident that the approach of value based education is somehow successful.
The necessity of value education was not only felt by teachers, researcher, academician but National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2000) also felt its importance and stressed on the development of qualities such as, regularity, punctuality, cleanliness, self control, industriousness, sense of duty, desire to serve, responsibility, enterprise, creativity, sensitivity to greater equality, fraternity democratic attitude and sense of obligation to environmental protection. The values which we acquire throughout our academic life such as, love, peace, non violence, right action and truth creates a greater civilization in our present society.
Education should be such kind that can build a good character of young’s that can address different problems which the people of our country are confronting today. Education provides knowledge from general to specific and the skills which are needed to teach that is teaching skill and the highest medium or tool to inculcate the values in education. After the entire concept is clear that value based education promotes quality education and brings all round development of a child.
The inclusion of value in education is highly needed because only value based education can provide such knowledge that can help us to meet new challenges and purposes of our life. Behaviour plays important role in value as because it is behaviour through which we can measure one’s extent of acquiring value. The behaviour can be two types such as, positive and negative; the positive behaviour of one individual can be enhanced through value.
It is universally accepted and known by all that education is the most preferred medium and tool to spread the values and improving human behaviours. Values help an individual to be polite for elders, showing positive attitude, loving the people, to be sincere, working for truth and at the end to be honest for their responsive work and people. These human qualities are leading for the development of positive human attitude and behaviour.
Strategies of fostering values
Value can be fostered in different ways and different forms, researchers as well as value educators gave their own view but perhaps most useful or appropriate technique is through curriculum as it is the easiest way to connect with their hearts. Below few techniques are mentioned, these are as follows:
1. Curriculum for value
It has seen few curriculums are biased towards particular religion, it can break unity in diversity of India therefore there should not be place of religious education for fostering values among people and it should be unambiguous. In the educational curriculum different subject has different implications for student’s real life. For instance, for developing cultural values literature subject can be an effective medium. For fostering social, moral, spiritual, ethical and national values among Indian citizens inclusion of different subjects can play vital role. Adequate inclusion of science in school curricula will teach them to live with scientific attitude and examining every experience. To make the students as a logical thinker mathematics subject is adequate. And social science subjects make the students aware towards social problems and different issues relating to child right, women empowerment, ST, SC, minority issues and so on. The NCF 2005 felt the importance of subjects in fostering values and stressed on changes in the areas of language, mathematics, science and social sciences with a view to make education more relevant to the present day and future needs. Further, NPE 1986 suggested including the elements of constitutional obligations, history of Indian independence and national identity, as it will bring positive changes in national values. The national values integration, secularism, equality, democracy, cultural heritage preservation can be met to people only after imparting history of Indian independence and national identity.
2. Co-curricular activities for values
The schools can take the initiative to organize or arrange to involve the students in writing biographies, story, essay, articles, and debate and so on. Further different can be performed in schools such as, eradication of social evil awareness, environmental awareness, AIDS prevention awareness, and so on. For fostering values among students dramatization, music, sports and games can be organized as these are the highest form of fostering values. Furthermore, apart from curricular and co-curricular many more activities can be performed for fostering values, group oriented technique can be performed where healthy development among the students will takes place and leading them to be prepared for playing social role. Incidental method can be most effective way for fostering values as incident is experience for an individual generally incidental is pre planed or suppose to be happen this will enable the students in identifying right or wrong action in their life.
3. Inculcating peace of mind
Peace of mind is a key position of brain to think right and to do right. It can be cited that Mark Richardson rightly asserted that “Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions.”
Teacher’s Role in Inculcating Values
For meeting the aims and objectives of values teachers’ role is prime, teacher plays key role in imparting values among students. Only a teacher can play role in maintaining and nurturing values. Teacher must be dedicated, trained, skilful, committed, energetic and motivated to keep the pace of the development of students. Teacher has massive prospective for bringing positive changes in the society through signifying required values of heart. Teachers must create such situation where the students will able to know necessity of value and its implications in real life situations. In fact in inculcating values teacher’s role is like driver who will help to reach the messages to masses of society through education. Teachers without value among themselves cannot inculcate values; hence, adequate training system must be introduced for carrying on the process of inculcating values. Teacher can inculcate values through discussion, experimentation and demonstration. However, teachers must be more concern about ongoing trends and issues where value erosion is taking place and hampering human life. The teachers should more focus in building rapport with students for effective relationship between teachers and taught so that easily values can be inculcated to the students. Apart from it, teacher’s role is for making inter-relationship between teacher and student, teacher and community, teacher and parent, there should be united effort by them. Teacher should be endeavor of inclusion of values in curricular and co-curricular, effort should be made to organize co-scholastic activities in schools for fostering values among human lives.
Conclusion
In our day to day life we are talking about value but till today we could not perceive actual value instead all are proceeding towards negative values which led men in getting more and more without giving more and more and as a result there is no peace in mind. Consequently restlessness, dishonesty, immorality, and corruption are intensifying day by day. To address these challenges value based education is imitable and has a crucial place in the betterment of society as well as nation. So keeping on view the value based education certain educational policy, curricula, syllabi should be framed. While framing value based curriculum responsibility, co-operation, peace, respect, honest, humility should be incorporated but entire process must be completed under the supervision of expert teacher and the teacher and learner must be humble and cooperate each other and work each other. Value based education has the potentiality to renovate a diseased mind into a fresh, healthy and attentive mind. The educational philosophy of the great philosopher, educationist and Yogi Swami Vivekananda that are ‘Man making’ and ‘character building’ inspiration was none other than value based education. It must be mentioned here that the value spreaders or preachers who are considered as value educators must be concern on universal ideals of love, respect, empathy, co-operation, peace and so on. The responsibility of fostering values among the people should not be confined by single education system and value educators rather the stake holders, institutions, individuals must be endeavour to bring wellbeing in our society and make auspicious and prosperous future.
