SAI holds seminar on human values - Times of Oman

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SAI holds seminar on human values

MUSCAT — The Serve And Inspire (SAI) group, in co-operation with the Ministry of

Education, has organised a seminar on the ‘Role of teachers and inculcation of

human values’ at Al Ibdaa School (Creative Private School) at Bausher.

Seventy-nine teachers representing 28 Omani bilingual schools took part in the

seminar, which was first in a series of events planned by the Ministry of

Education to be conducted by the Serve And Inspire group.

Aisha Ahmed Al Balushi, director of the Department of Private Schools, Ministry

of Education, inaugurated the seminar and released a brochure specially

prepared for the occasion.

Michelle Ni Thogdha, curriculum officer at the Ministry of Education, welcomed

the audience and gave an outline of the modules of the seminar. She applauded

the strong sense of commitment of the Serve And Inspire group to a wide range

of service activities in the Sultanate and especially to the cause of value

education. She pointed out that teaching was not a job but a calling, a calling

towards nation-building.

Dr R. Narayan spoke on ‘Understanding and practice of human values —

psychological impact on the child’. He explained that from the lofty ideals of

‘man-making’ and ‘character-building’ in the past, the objectives of education

have taken a downward trend to that of ‘job-seeking’ and ‘money-making’ which

has led to the current scenario of crisis at different levels. Stressing the

importance of value-based education, he quoted as saying that the “end of

education is character’. He then explained how the Sathya Sai Education in

Human Values helps in the blossoming of each child’s noble character by

eliciting human values from within the child.

Dr Devyani Narayan made a presentation on ‘The five basic human values and their

sub-values’. Truth, she said, “does not undergo a change due to time, space or

person”. She quoted the words of Shakespeare that “When one is established in

truth, one is rid of fear!” She explained that any action born out of love

based on truth would be righteous. She emphasised that the value love was the

undercurrent of all human values. The distinct property of love is that it

grows with sharing. She then described peace as the end purpose of all human

endeavours and non-violence as the zenith of human achievement.

The presentations were interspersed innovatively with interesting interludes

with value-based songs. Uma Anantha melodiously rendered the songs, Give a

little bit of love every day; Smile, smile, smile and Take a lesson from the

sun.

Mallika Shetty then presented the topic ‘Role of teachers and inculcation of

human values’. She quoted an adage that “Education is for life and not merely a

living’. She then explained the structure and functioning of the human mind. She

said teachers were remembered most for what they were than what they taught. She

quoted the saying “First be, then do, then tell” should be strictly adhered to

by the teachers.

It was followed by an interlude with the theme ‘Laughter – the best medicine’,

presented by Shankar Shetty. He mentioned that scientific research showed that

hearty laugh led to a high oxygen intake leading to better health capable of

even curing major ailments.

Srimathi Venkatesh spoke on ‘Methodology: Techniques of highlighting in subjects

and co-curricular activities’ involving the audience in many group activities.

She said education in human values was not a new subject, but the very purpose

of life. She said the current curriculum “is good like a piece of cake, but

values are like cherries, which add to the beauty and taste”. She showed

examples of integration of values in English, science and mathematics.

Vijay Ramanaidoo, who has extensively worked with the SSEHV in the United

Kingdom, shared his experiences under the title ‘Sathya Sai EHV — the UK

Experience’. He recalled that programmes such as personal social health

education and the citizenship education having SSEHV as a school ethos and

underlying theme in the core curriculum subjects. He quoted the words of

Stephen Twigg, MP and parliamentary undersecretary of state for schools in the

United Kingdom who was highly appreciative of the Sathya Sai Education in Human

Values Programme. This was followed by a video presentation, which provided

glimpses of SSEHV in action in the United Kingdom.

The interactive session which followed showed the level of impact on the

teachers from whom there was a stream of suggestions and plans to take the

education in human values programme further to benefit the student community.

Michelle Ni Thogdha, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, and I. Jairam, on

behalf of the Serve And Inspire group, proposed a vote of thanks.