CBSE ropes in Ramakrishna Mission to impart value education

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has roped in the Ramakrishna Mission to impart value education to students and teachers.

In a recent advisory to all schools affiliated to it, the Board has urged them to consider allowing students and teachers to attend the value education programmes at the Delhi branch of the Ramakrishna Mission.

The Board, however, maintained that it was "optional" for schools to allow the Mission to conduct such programmes on their campuses.

With an objective to "strengthen, promote and develop cooperation in promoting values education," the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, has prepared the 'Awakened Citizen Programme' for teachers and students, the CBSE said in its advisory to the schools on December 20.

"This programme, a teacher training module for giving value education to students is optional and schools desirous of adopting the 'Awakened Citizen Programme' for their students may visit www.theawakenedcitizen.org to know more about the programme's content, approach and contact the Ramakrishna Mission," it added.

The Board said the training module is a three-year "graded values education programme" for students of Classes VI to IX.

"The programme acknowledges the potential of young learners and empowers them to harness their infinite strength and goodness and provides them with a path to develop into enlightened citizens," the Board added.

The schools willing to opt for this programme will have to allot 16 periods per year as the programme will be conducted for a minimum period of three years.

"As the programme involves initial two days' training of teachers conducted in the school, the schools desirous of enrolling into the programmes are requested to register with the Ramakrishna Mission," the Board said.

Apart from the initial training of the teachers, the Ramakrishna Mission resource persons will be available "to hand-hold teachers" through scheduled school visits as well as over telephone and email.

"It may be noted that this training programme of teachers can be undertaken by schools who opt for it, at their own pace, time and convenience," the CBSE stated in its advisory.