Ram Rattan Sharma
The main function of education is the development of an all round and well balanced personality of the students. 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, skills and interests among the students. Country is under going 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 and 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 – subjects or more knowledge. This age of science and technology has created industrialism and urbanism. Inspite of achievements in science and technology, man is not happy and contented 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, 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 a future 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, “the expanding knowledge and the growing power which it places at the disposal of modern society must, therefore be combined with the strengthening and deepening of the sense of social responsibility and a keener appreciation of moral and 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 moral 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 endeavours for social service and social justice. We should also draw strength and inspiration from the world revolutions and various. eastern and western cultures. NCERT recognized the relevance and importance of the Gandhian values in reforming education in 1970, in the seminar organized in the context of international education year.
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.
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