Value oriented education

Ram Rattan Sharma
The main function of education is the development of an all round and well balanced personality of the student. But now  adays more emphasis is unduly laid on knowledge based and information oriented education which takes care of only the intellectual development of the child, consequently the other aspects of their personality like physical, social and spiritual are not properly developed by providing for the growth of attitudes, habits, values, skill and interest among the students .Country is undergoing radical social changes. The students who are future citizens have to be trained to respond to and adjust with these social changes  by equipping them with desirable skills and values. India has been committed to the guiding principles of socialism, Secularism, democracy & National integration.
These principles should be emphasized in the educational system and suitable  values are to be inculcated in the students for promoting equality social Justice, national cohesion and democratic citizenship. With these aims in view, radical reforms in the present education system are to  be introduced and attempts should be made for developing well integrated personalities of our students . There is need of inculcating values in society as it is more important than teaching of subject or more knowledge. “This age of Science & technology has created industrialism & Urbanism. Inspite of achievements”  in science & technology, man is not happy and contented. Powerful tools of destruction are in the possession of mankind. The world has already experienced the horrors of modern wars. Inspite of scientific achievements, the world is a place of violence, gloom and unease. Inspite of the material prosperity, a large section of the humanity is under the grip of poverty and corruption. These situations have arisen due to crises of values and character. There is  no harmony between the inner and outer self and there is feeling of emptiness. What is the remedy of all these ills? How can peace and harmony be promoted ? How can mankind live in unity? How can social Justice be ensured in the world? How can mankind carve out for itself future of peace and prosperity? Inculcation of desirable values in society is felt essential for  finding  out answer to the above  questions  the Kothari commission has also observed  that,” the expanding knowledge and the growing power which it placed at the disposal of modern  society must thereforebe combined  with the strengthening  and deepening of the senseof social responsibility  and a kinner appreciation of moral spiritual values the  Commission has also added  that while a combination of ignorance with goodness may be futile ,that of knowledge with a lack of essential values may be dangerous, the weakening of social and mieral values in the younger generation is creating many serious social and ethical conflicts. The commission have suggested it is important for us to give a proper value orientation to our educational system after independence, continued attempts have been made for inculcation of right values in the students at different stages of education. All three commissions which were constituted in 1948, 1952, 1964 recommended inculcation of value education in students. We should also be inspired by the ideology and activities of Mahatma Gandhi and others in our endeavors for social service and social Justice. We should also draw strength andinspiration from the world revolutions and various eastern and western cultures NCRT recognized the relevance and importance of the Gandhian values in reforming education in 1970, in the seminar organized in  context of international education year.
In the context of modern India which is moving towards industrialsationTechnology and democracy based on social justice, secularism and national integration. We need education which is based on spiritual, moral and social values. The most significant need of the hour is to transform the educational system with a view to cultivate the basic values of humanism democracy, socialism and secularism.
(The author is former Deputy Librarian University of Jammu).
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