Role of Value Education in Enhancing National Integration

Values are essential for positive human behaviour. Education from time immemorial has focused on values. Values form the core of educational goals and objectives. Almost every education policy document has emphasized the role of education in fostering values. Education Commission (1966) recommended introduction of social, moral and spiritual values in the school curricula. The National Policy of Education (1986) also highlighted the need of education for values in removing intolerance, violence, superstition and upholding social, cultural and scientific principles to make India a secular, democratic and progressive nation taking pride in its cultural heritage. The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (2000) brought to focus the erosion of ethical, social and spiritual values and suggested the integration of values in the curriculum. Value education is the process by which people transmit values to others. Values education can take place at home, as well as in schools, colleges, universities, jails and voluntary youth organisations. Value Education brings about the innate harmony in existence and clarifies that man by understanding this harmony is able to be in harmony within him and with others in society and rest of nature. National integration refers to the process of creating awareness of the single identity by which people from a particular area or country should subscribe. National integration seeks to eliminate vices like inequality, where Value Education does not talk about rewards and punishments. The goal is happiness here and now. It puts forward the proposition that the basic human values are inherent and intact in all of us while strengthening solidarity and unity. Value Education only proposes and asks its listeners to investigate and explore into their own inner self and connect to what is innate and intact in all of them as something which is universal, natural and all-fulfilling for them as well as others. One can do this irrespective of his/her own religion or faith or beliefs. National Integration is a psychological process. It means a well knit society in which all are loyal to their country. It means that every Indian irrespective of caste, creed, language or religion belongs to India and is proud of his country.