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Even as the students of the University
in Prasanthi Nilayam were taking their tests earlier
this month, the faculty was busy teaching an entirely
new set of 'students'! All these 'students' were in
fact teachers from various schools, country over. They
had come down to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Learning to have an education on 'Value Education'
During accreditation, last year, the University Grants
Commission of India recognized the Sri Sathya Sai Institute
of Higher Learning as a Regional Resource Centre for
value education. From 4th to 9th August 2003, the Institute
conducted an "Orientation Course in Value Education
for In-service Teachers" at Prasanthi Nilayam.
The six day course commenced with the sacred blessings
of the Chancellor of the Institute, Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
and was inaugurated by Prof.J.S.Rajput, Director, National
Council for Education Research and Training.
The Orientation Course placed before itself the following
objectives:
- To examine the meaning, scope, and significance
of values and their influence on human behavior
- To appreciate the significance of value-oriented
education in general with particular reference
to India
- To acquaint with the philosophy and methodology
of value-oriented education
- To understand the inter-face between science,
spirituality, and religion vis-à-vis
education as currently understood
- To identify the role of various variables
(parents/ parent-substitutes, rearing practices,
schooling, neighbourhood, movies, electronic
and print-media, etc.) in the formation of values
of individuals
- To familiarize with various methods of teaching/
training relevant to value-orientation in educational
institutions
- To gain knowledge about the value-orientation
model of integral education being practiced
in Sri Sathya Sai educational institutions located
at Prasanthi Nilayam through participant observation.
The content of the orientation course could
be grouped into the following major themes:
- Concept, philosophy, and methodology
of value-oriented education
- Value oriented education at Sri Sathya
Sai Institute of Higher Learning
- Role of teachers and parents in value
oriented education
- Factors, issues, and methods of value
oriented education and
- Teaching of various subjects with value
orientation.
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There were twenty sessions in total
spreading on all the six days. The morning and afternoon
sessions were predominantly lecture sessions while those
in the evening were exclusively experiential, wherein
the participant teachers were exposed to case-studies,
syndicate discussions, video-films, games, seminar presentations,
etc. The participants also made presentations regarding
their own school practices relating to value education
and their perspectives with respect to value orientation.
The orientation course was attended by 22 in-service
school teachers and administrators, in the age group
of 30 - 55, from different states of India such as Andhra
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana,
and Orissa. All the sessions were handled by faculty
members of the Institute.
Conference Partcipants with the Vice-Chancellor and
Faculty
The Orientation Course in Value Education resulted in
the following observations: value education is the most
powerful panacea for all the societal maladies. Today,
teachers are the most important key factor in education
system in general and value education in particular.
Teachers ought to impart values predominantly by role
modeling, supplementing the same through pedagogy. Teaching
should be regarded as a way of life and not as a simple
means of livelihood. Conscientiously developed teaching
methods play an important role in value education: such
as carefully devised lectures, role plays, and experiential
learning systems. Value Education should be undertaken
as an integral part of teaching of all courses by all
teachers and also through specially designated courses,
and finally through a systematized pattern of life.
Majority of the respondents reported that the course
helped them "to a very great" extent in their
self development, rated the overall course as an "excellent"
learning experience and would place it in the "top
segment" of similar programs in the country.
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