SUGGESTIONSFORREVIEWOFINDIANEDUCATIONSYSTEM

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MentalandSpiritualHealth

1. Emphasis may be given to improve mental and spiritual health of each member of society. Inclusion of the way of living prescribed in vedas and Srimad Bhagavat Gita will prove beneficial in this direction. The relevance of vedic teachings as given below may be included in the syllabus.

1. 1. Consciousness (oneness).The sense of one in all and all in one will ensure love and caring attitude towards all elements of ecosystem including human beings, flora and fauna, soil, air, water, terrestrial bodies (mountains, river, ocean), celestial bodies (sun ,moon ,stars), etc. {Slokas fromSrimadBhagvatGitamaybeincludedinthis regard-Chapter/sloka

-6/30,9/29,13/16,13/17}

1. 2. PersonalityDevelopment.Thecontributionofpersonalityof leaders and citizens in the development of a nation needs no emphasis. Following aspects of personality may be imbibed in the children during formative years.
      1. The social values andculture are set by the leaders. Sloka from Srimad Bhagvat Gita may be included in this regard - Chapter/sloka - 3/21}
      2. Friendly, compassionate, free from attachment to possessions and egotism,equipoised in happiness and distress, ever-forgiving,ever-contented, self-controlled and firm in conviction. Slokas from Srimad Bhagvat Gita may be included in this regard - Chapter/sloka - 2/56, 2/66, 12/13 and 12/14.
      3. Tranquility (calm mind), restraint (think before you act), determination, austerity of efforts (non-indulgence/ self discipline), purity of thoughts, patience and integrity. Slokas from Srimad Bhagvat Gita may be included in this regard - Chapter/sloka - 18/42.
      4. Anger management - Slokas from Srimad Bhagvat Gita may be included in this regard - Chapter/sloka - 2/63
   3. Developing Environment Conscious Society.Understanding the dependence of human civilisation on nature and respecting it is the basis towards sustainable human civilisation. The teachings from vedas and Gita may be included in the syllabus. The concept of panch bhoot being the basic building blooks of living organisms may be included. Slokas from Srimad Bhagvat Gita may be included in this regard - Chapter/sloka - 3/14, 7/4}

1. 4. Managing Failures.            The personnel unsuccessful in their endeavor undergo tremendous stress and in few cases they commitsuicide/get into depression. Every year, we loose many promising and bright students, established businessmen and famous personalitiesfromdifferent fieldsfornot beingabletomanagefearoffailureor failure. The failure or fear of failure can be handled through control of senses, developing sense of detachment (remaining equi-poised in success/failure)and understanding the web of Karma (action). {Slokas from Srimad Bhagvat Gita may be included in this regard - Chapter/sloka - 2/47, 2/56 and 2/66}

2. In addition, relevant ayat/surah from The Quran and verses from The BibleandfromotherreligiousHolybooksonabove subjectsalsobeincluded.

India’sSecularNarratives

3. The word secular was included in the Indian constitution through forty- second Amendment of the Constitutionin 1976. The constitution demands that state to pursue policies secular both in thought and action. The state to a very great extent remained away from the religion. As a result, secular narrative of India was totally controlled by extra-constitutional institutions. Since, secularism isa constitutional requirement, the narratives pertaining to secularism should also be the responsibility of the state. The religious institutions only be responsible to propagate such narrative to achieve its aim. The state should proclaim the narratives. The narratives to include following:

1. 1. Religionisawayoflifemeantformentalandspiritualgrowthof mankind. Religion is for mankind not other way round.
   2. ReligiontopromoteIndiannationalismandinternationalism.
   3. An   atmosphere   ofunderstanding     andco-existence      between   all religions.
   4. Equalopportunitytoallreligionsandpersonnelfollowingit.
   5. Highlightingcontributionofreligionsinsustainablehumancivilization.
   6. Religiontoaccommodatechangingneedsofsociety.
   7. Religion to provide moral compass to its followers and prompt to be a law abiding citizen.
   8. Respectingreligioussentimentsofeachother

(j)         Religiontobeinconformitywithallprovisionsofconstitution

4. The religion provides moral fibre to its citizens which works ascompass to sail through life.The present system is tight lipped about religion. Thereligioussubjectsarenot being taught/discussed in schools,colleges and open platforms. In the absence of national narrative on the subject and structuredprogramme to implement it, the secular narratives are controlled by interested few and shape it to suit their requirement.The group also profess own interpretation of The Holy books. This has resulted in distrust/uneasiness between different sections leading to intra/inter religion conflicts, terrorism, individual glorification at the cost of national interest, etc. The formulation of India’s secular narrative and its implementation is the need of the hour to

protect integrity and honour of the nation. In addition, it will also, foster nationalism, belongingness, brotherhood and would result in higher productivity and enhanced happiness quotient (which is the only aim of mankind and very purpose of each and every individual).

ImplementationofSecularNarratives

5. The religious groups like Muslims and Christians have their own structured system of educating future generations on socialvalues associated with respective religions and practices/rituals. However, in case of Hindus there is no such arrangement.

1. 1. Church.The church runs classes for teaching religious subjects to children. A child undergoes regular study in schools/colleges. The church has designed class wise syllabus on religious subjects. A child in addition to study in school/college, has to complete religious subjects corresponding to that classinchurch.Asanincentive, thechildoncompletionofcourseonreligious subjects in church,subject to having requisite qualification is givenpreference in colleges/technical institutions run by Christian community or becomes eligible for scholarships to pursue higher studies. The community visits church on regular basis and remains connected to the church and religion.

1. 2. Madrasa.The Madrasa also conducts religious classes for childrenof Muslim community. The Muslim bodies provide different incentives in the form of scholarships and preference in schools/colleges run by community members to students who study religious subjects.

The incentive based religious programs prompt memberstoremainconnectedtothereligionand keep community united. Each community has its own narrative, at times squintedtowards communitybenefitunderminingnationalinterest.

1. 3. Hindus/OtherReligiousGroups.Thereisnostructured program for teaching religiousvalues/subjects to personnel belonging to other religious groups, which constitute more than 80% of population.Such a situation may affect secular character of the constitution in future, if a large part of population gets disoriented i.e. follow something not in line withnational narratives . It is in the interest of the nation to keep the value system alive amongst all sections of society to maintain social harmony.

Otherwisethesocietywillfacetheconsequences arising out of faith imbalance.

6. The teachings on secular narratives and values associated with each religion are to be taught to future generations. The curriculum and teaching methodology may be given due attention so that religious fanaticism/disliking towards each others does not developin thestudents. This will be detrimental to nation building and feeling of oneness. The teaching should aim at developing good qualities and harness/enhance inner potential. Followingmay be adopted in this regard.

1. 1. The materials to be used (print and electronic) are to be prepared centrally for the purpose of standardisation and to prevent any unscrupulous element tampering with the content.
   2. It is to be covered in all schools upto upper primary. The religious scholars (other than pandits/mullaha/father) having requisite educational qualification may be employed for teaching.
   3. In addition, it may be taught in community run institutions under the supervision of Govt bodies.
   4. Theteachingofreligioninreligiousinstitutionsistobe stopped.

The secular narrative would help citizens to become spiritual, tolerant, friendly with nature, becoming loving, free from ego, equipoised in happiness and misery, satisfied with less, contended, self controlled, honest, free from hatred towards all living beings, compassionate, enhance inner strength, etc.

OtherSubjectsofInterest

7. In addition to above following may be considered for inclusion in education system.
   1. Foreign Language.            Each child needs to study one foreign language VIIIthclass onwards. It will develop Viswavad (internationalism) in the child. In addition, it will be easy for the child to accommodate himself comfortably in higher forums when he grows up. It can be taught on line.
   2. ConstitutionofIndia.Thepreamble,dutiesandresponsibilities aretobetaughtfrom classI onwards.It will helphim tobecomearesponsible citizen and will prepare to contribute towards the growth of nation. Even if heis in class I, his contribution by way of respect for law of the land, respect for environment, cleanliness, conservation/preservationof soil/water/air andother resources needs no emphasis. The child will also be an ambassador in the family and prompt members to contribute in nation building.
   3. Yoga
   4. Meditation
   5. Respectformotherland,parentsandelders
   6. Principlesofayurveda-dependencyofhumancivilisationonnature

9. 7. Senseofrastravad(nationalism)andviswavad(universalism-वसुधैव कुटुम्ककम)asinvedicliterature
   8. Indiantraditions-culture,responsibilitiesatdifferentstagesoflife,etc
10. ScientificcontributionfromancientIndiaandvedicmathematicsof appropriate level
11. Healthy way ofliving(physicalandmental health- goodfood habits, cleanliness, etc )

50. Managingfailuresandsuccess

1000. Mothernatureandconservation practices
14. Observanceoflawoftheland

16. Indianindependence
17. Developinquisitiveness

EvaluationTechniques

8. The present evaluation technique accord equal weight-age to all sections of syllabus. The evaluation is normally undertaken through term end examination. Equal weight-age is given to all subjects. Ideally higher attention should be paid to subjects which enhances IQ, SQ, EQ, AQ and communication skills. Less weight-age to be given toother subjects which contain general information. Following are suggested in respect of evaluation process.
   1. The sections like science, mathematics, reasoning, etc whichcontributetowards IQbe treatedasgrade Isubjects. Thesesubjects areto be taught with due attention and be evaluated through examinations as being followed presently. 100% weight-age be given to marks obtained.
   2. The study of languages (Mother tongue, English, Hindi and one foreign language) develop communication skills and be treated as grade I subjects and be evaluated through examinations. 100% weight-age be given to marks obtained.
   3. The sections which develop SQ, EQ and AQ areto be treated asgrade II and be evaluated through monthly assignments. 75% weight-age be given to marks obtained.
   4. The other subjects areto be treated as grade III and be evaluated through monthly assignments. 25% weight-age be given to marks obtained.

PrintingofBooks

9. In majority of schools, new books are provided to students every year.It is mostly for commercialreasons. The old books are discarded even if they are in good condition. Apart from wastage of resources, it inflicts heavy toll on the environment aslarge number of trees are cut to feed paper industry. Such a practice is to be discouraged. The standardization of books, centralised printing and controlled distribution may help in this regard. The use of soft copies instead of hard copies may be considered in this regard.