Value Education for Teachers...       
 
 
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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:
  1. Concept, philosophy, and methodology of value-oriented education
  2. Value oriented education at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
  3. Role of teachers and parents in value oriented education
  4. Factors, issues, and methods of value oriented education and
  5. Teaching of various subjects with value orientation.

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.

 
 

Volume : PDS / 01 Date : AUG 31 2003