<p>“We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet,” said Swami Vivekananda.<br /><br />Schools lay foundation to the progressive nation through their value education. When the nation is witnessing erosion of values in almost every field, the term value education has come to acquire great meaning in today’s context. This is not something that our education system is not aware of, in fact, the concept of value education is as old as the history of education itself, but is only neglected. Teachers are seen as the messengers of value education. There is a great deal in training the teachers who will be the torchbearers of the nation’s progress. But are teachers really being trained in value education? There are many teachers’ training institutes, but seldom do they stress exclusively on value education.<br /><br />The National Policy on Education (1986) has given more priority on value education. A working group to revive teachers training programmes was also formed to chalk out programmes for value education by the Government of India in 1983. The group has recommended for the inclusion of a value education component in the teachers education programme. Even, the University Education Commission (1948-49), the first Commission on education set up in the independent India, insisted on moral and spiritual training in our institutions. Many commissions and many recommendations later, value education is yet to receive its due importance.</p>.<p><br />Bridging gaps in values<br /><br />However, there is one institution - Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE), Mysore, that has been bridging this gap by putting itself distinctively ahead of other teaching institutions. Set amid the beautiful nature, RIMSE, run by the Ramakrishna Ashram Order, is a modern day Gurukula in every sense. From quiet environs to the disciplined life to the strict learning, RIMSE is an institution that has set standards for value teachers. It believes that right teaching is right learning. Teacher-trainees here undergo rigorous training to be moulded as quality teachers, a fact that is ignored by many B.Ed colleges in the run to finish designated courses. <br /><br />Established way back in 1974, the institute offers a one-year, fully residential course, but for men only. The course includes a compulsory specialisation subject on moral and spiritual education in Arts and Science subjects. Affiliated to the University of Mysore, the courses of the institute have been recognised by National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and they are updated once in five years. <br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, institution principal Dr C Gurumurthy said that the institution believes in highest standards of teaching and does not follow chalk and talk method. <br /><br />“The training is not rigorous when compared to the ‘Tapasya’ of our sages. But a teacher is a ‘gyani’ and he should not get carried away by the materialistic pleasure on the path to attain knowledge, therefore we have adopted a holistic approach towards training teachers,” he said. Mobile phones, a must-have thing today, are banned in the institute.<br /><br />The centre is well-equipped with a library and a computer centre. To enhance the communication skills, the centre also provides spoken english training to its students. <br /><br />Here everybody wears spiritualism on their sleeve and a meditation cellar here speaks volumes about this. With a view of enabling the trainees to understand and respect all religions, a sarva dharma prayer is a part of their activities.<br /><br />Eligibility<br /><br />Those who have completed BA or B.Sc with 50 per cent aggregate marks in all three years (45 per cent in case of SC/ST candidates and physically disabled) are eligible for the course. According to the principal Dr C Gurumurthy, the course is offered in two semesters beginning in July-August and ending the following May. “Most of the teaching institutes begin their academic programme in December unlike the RIMSE. Students can save nearly five months time,” he said. The University of Mysore conducts the semester exams in November-December every year and the following April-May. Campus recruitment is a regular feature here. According to the institute correspondent, last year 20 different schools had participated in the campus recruitment and many students have been selected. </p>
<p>“We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet,” said Swami Vivekananda.<br /><br />Schools lay foundation to the progressive nation through their value education. When the nation is witnessing erosion of values in almost every field, the term value education has come to acquire great meaning in today’s context. This is not something that our education system is not aware of, in fact, the concept of value education is as old as the history of education itself, but is only neglected. Teachers are seen as the messengers of value education. There is a great deal in training the teachers who will be the torchbearers of the nation’s progress. But are teachers really being trained in value education? There are many teachers’ training institutes, but seldom do they stress exclusively on value education.<br /><br />The National Policy on Education (1986) has given more priority on value education. A working group to revive teachers training programmes was also formed to chalk out programmes for value education by the Government of India in 1983. The group has recommended for the inclusion of a value education component in the teachers education programme. Even, the University Education Commission (1948-49), the first Commission on education set up in the independent India, insisted on moral and spiritual training in our institutions. Many commissions and many recommendations later, value education is yet to receive its due importance.</p>.<p><br />Bridging gaps in values<br /><br />However, there is one institution - Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education (RIMSE), Mysore, that has been bridging this gap by putting itself distinctively ahead of other teaching institutions. Set amid the beautiful nature, RIMSE, run by the Ramakrishna Ashram Order, is a modern day Gurukula in every sense. From quiet environs to the disciplined life to the strict learning, RIMSE is an institution that has set standards for value teachers. It believes that right teaching is right learning. Teacher-trainees here undergo rigorous training to be moulded as quality teachers, a fact that is ignored by many B.Ed colleges in the run to finish designated courses. <br /><br />Established way back in 1974, the institute offers a one-year, fully residential course, but for men only. The course includes a compulsory specialisation subject on moral and spiritual education in Arts and Science subjects. Affiliated to the University of Mysore, the courses of the institute have been recognised by National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and they are updated once in five years. <br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, institution principal Dr C Gurumurthy said that the institution believes in highest standards of teaching and does not follow chalk and talk method. <br /><br />“The training is not rigorous when compared to the ‘Tapasya’ of our sages. But a teacher is a ‘gyani’ and he should not get carried away by the materialistic pleasure on the path to attain knowledge, therefore we have adopted a holistic approach towards training teachers,” he said. Mobile phones, a must-have thing today, are banned in the institute.<br /><br />The centre is well-equipped with a library and a computer centre. To enhance the communication skills, the centre also provides spoken english training to its students. <br /><br />Here everybody wears spiritualism on their sleeve and a meditation cellar here speaks volumes about this. With a view of enabling the trainees to understand and respect all religions, a sarva dharma prayer is a part of their activities.<br /><br />Eligibility<br /><br />Those who have completed BA or B.Sc with 50 per cent aggregate marks in all three years (45 per cent in case of SC/ST candidates and physically disabled) are eligible for the course. According to the principal Dr C Gurumurthy, the course is offered in two semesters beginning in July-August and ending the following May. “Most of the teaching institutes begin their academic programme in December unlike the RIMSE. Students can save nearly five months time,” he said. The University of Mysore conducts the semester exams in November-December every year and the following April-May. Campus recruitment is a regular feature here. According to the institute correspondent, last year 20 different schools had participated in the campus recruitment and many students have been selected. </p>
