Does India need value education in schools and colleges?

Written by Meghalaya Times. Posted in Front Page Staff Reporter SHILLONG, Aug 10: That India is going through a socio-economic, political and cultural crisis was strongly emphasized during a debate competition of school and college students organized by the Ramakrishna Mission here on Saturday. The motion of the debate was: “value education in the education system is not necessary,” but students, although speaking for and against the subject, gave ample hint of their disillusionment of the present scenario of the country. “See what happened to Durga Nagpal,” one of the students argued when he said that value education was not necessary. There was a tone of frustration in the youngster’s argument. Others gave similar arguments and said there are everyday scams, rape and crime and many of these are committed by the educated who knows how to wriggle out of the situation. Others described the present situation in India as a “sea of crime.” “Some of these politicians are educated and know the right from the wrong, but still the news is full of such people and incidents,” another school student said, who rejected the idea of value education as a subject in schools and colleges. Many felt that schools being one of the most important links between the community and the State, value education as a separate subject must begin in these important centres of learning. Others were of the opinion that the present education gives enough value education and a separate subject would only lead to overburdening. “Should value education be institutionalized? And what if someone is caught cheating during a moral education examination, who would be responsible,” one of the students asked aptly. Some of the students said that homes were the places where young minds are taught moral values by their parents. This argument was countered by other students who said that the modern society is fast becoming nuclear in structure with parents dedicating less time to their children. “What about orphans or students in boarding schools, moreover, the family structure are increasingly becoming small and nuclear in nature,” another student said, while highlighting the reduced role the parents are having in guiding their children. One of the students expressed that value are in-born and teachers do not teach what is right and what is wrong. Another student said having qualities of high moral values, discipline, punctuality are now considered ‘extra – baggage’, adding it is common to assume that talented people do not need values. The young students came against each other with numerous examples and views. Some said that science with its “cause and effect” is the best value educator and if someone does not carry forward the lesson from science and implement in their lives, no amount of additional moral lessons would help. But what was encouraging during the debate, which was acknowledged by the judges at the end, that all the 41 students who took part in the competition did give importance to morality in building the collective personality of the community. “The present education system has become commercialized and dishing out robots with degrees and passports to a good bank balance. Value education is necessary and there is no harm in giving it a thought,” a student against the motion argued as his team won when the question was eventually put through a voice vote for the audience.