Beyond Textbooks: What is Value Education and Why Does It Matter?

 

Value education aims to educate students about the core moral and ethical values that govern society. Students learn to question and understand the basis of rules and actions of individuals and institutions. They are instilled with values and ideas to help in decision-making, ensuring the greatest good for the greatest numbers. 

In India, and across Western society, where STEM learning and practical thinking are endorsed, many decisions and inventions have been made without assessing long-term repercussions. Value education teaches students to connect with their humane feelings and view the world in all shades and not just black and white. 

What do students learn in Value Education?

Through Value Education, schools promote the quality of nurturing in students by promoting values and attitudes such as - 

• Perseverance
• Respect for others
• National identity
• Responsibility
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Diligence
• Empathy
• Law-abidingness
• Benevolence
• Unity
• Filial piety

In India, Value Education covers subjects such as -

• Moral compass
• Personality Development Through Value Education 
• Character building
• Respect for all religions
• Citizenship and social responsibility
• Critical thinking
• A positive view of life
• Better decision-making
• Personal development
• Respect for diversity
• Social values

The aim is to cultivate the right values and attitudes through cross-curricular domains such as moral education, civic education, national education, anti-drug education, life education, media and information literacy sustainability, and human rights education under the legal framework. 

Why is Value Education important?

Character building

The lessons learnt from Value Education help the student become emotionally stronger, independent and better at with dealing problems. Students learn to approach every problem and hurdle with solutions that are grounded in good ethics. Family, community and education play a vital role in building an individual’s good/bad character. The nuclear family structure focuses on the expectations and needs of their child alone, so the impetus of character building must be shared by schools and colleges where students are part of a community. 

Decision-making is driven by a moral compass and good ethics.

It becomes second nature to the student to measure the morality and ethics behind their decisions. Students learn to question the ethics behind issues that are occurring in their immediate surroundings, nationally and internationally. They learn to understand issues deeply, from different perspectives by discussing and debating their relevance. For instance, when a student is faced with a situation where a peer or teacher is doing something incorrect, they will decide to report the misdemeanour after understanding why the other person was part of such aberration and how can they make up. 

Respecting diversity

Tolerance towards different religions, nationalities, races, and classes and overall acceptance of diversity are taught through Value Education. Students learn from and celebrate diversity, which helps them adjust to different social conditions with an open mind. No nation or community is an island any more, social, economic, political and geographical interactions are a norm. It is important that students understand that diversity in thoughts, life choices and orientation will exist and it is important to approach diversity with an accepting demeanour.  

Empathy and compassion

Value Education focuses on building the student’s emotional quotient, which is a meaningful parameter that will help the students become citizens with compassionate and empathetic outlooks. Through the various case studies and topics students study in the subject, they build their social and emotional skills. They can understand a range of emotions that they feel, articulate them, relate to other people in adverse situations and respond appropriately. 

Conflict resolution

With the tensions and stresses that students will face every day in their personal and professional lives and also witnessing in society, conflict resolution through peaceful means without deviating from standard ethics and norms is important. How a student deals with a conflict situation speaks volumes of their strong character and sense of morality. Through value education, students are made aware of various ethical ways of conflict resolution. 

Holistic development

While the other subjects enable students to build knowledge in different subjects and fields, value education teaches them how to use their knowledge for the betterment of society. Students are taught to use the path of virtue and righteousness, without considering a different choice.