Article on Sathya Sai Education in Human Values in Oman - Times of Oman, Apr 7, 2004

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Tremendous response to Times’ essay writing, poster-making competition

MUSCAT — There has been a tremendous response for the Times of Oman Open Essay

Writing and Poster-Making Competition under the theme “Spreading the light

through human values 2004”, to be conducted on April 22 at Indian School Al

Ghubra.

Entries have been pouring in for the event, sponsored by Minara and organised by

the Serve And Inspire (SAI) Group in coordination with the Ministry of

Education.

The participating schools include 46 Omani Arabic schools (Cycle two and

Secondary) nominated by the Ministry of Education, 61 Omani bilingual schools,

33 international community schools and five Special Education schools.

Schools can send a maximum of three entries each for poster-making and essay

writing per age group (in all, a maximum of 24 entries from a school) for this

event, which is conducted without any participation fee either from either the

students or schools. Accomodating requests from the participating schools, the

organisers have extended the last date to April 10 by which time the

duly-filled forms should reach the organisers.

As the competition would start at sharp at 10.00am on April 22, the participants

have to take their seat atleast fifteen minutes before the scheduled time. Ruled

papers for essay writing and A3-sized white sheets for poster-making would be

provided by the organisers.

The material required for writing / drawing will have to be brought by the participants.

The spirit behind this competition is to make the children aware of the five

universal human values including love, truth, right conduct, non-violence and

peace, and provide an opportunity to them to reflect deeply on practising the

human values.

So, the following topics have been chosen i.e. “Good manners” for ages 6 to 9

years (Group A), “Be good, see good, do good” for ages 9 to 12 years (Group B),

“Sharing and caring” for ages 12 to 15 years (Group C) and “Give and forgive”

for ages 15 to 18 years (Group D) for essay writing as well as poster-making.

These themes have been announced well in advance so that the students can

benefit from the guidances from their teachers and parents as well as

discussions with their peers, which would benefit all concerned. The focus of

each topic is as follows:

Good manners: There is a proverb which says, “What is not bent at (the age of)

five cannot be bent at (the age of) fifty”. It means that good manners can be

easily formed at a tender age, but very difficult to form later in life.

Be good, see good, do good: We essentially become what we think. If our thoughts

are good and noble, we become good and noble indeed. Great personalities have

shown in their life of “always seeing good”, that is, overlooking the fault of

others.

Sharing and caring: Many animals and birds amply demonstrate the act of sharing

what they have. If that is the case, what should man — the highest form of

existence do? Sympathy for the suffering should be developed along with the

curbing of selfishness and greed.

Give and forgive: It is a common perception that by owning things for self, one

can be peaceful and happy. On the contrary, greater peace and joy are derived

by giving to others than seeking to possess. Ancient wisdom teaches that, “To

err is human, to forgive is divine”.

First, second and third prizes will be awarded in every age group, for each

category of school viz. Omani Arabic, Omani bilingual, international community

and Special Education for poster-making as well as essay writing. Also,

consolation prizes in each category and age group will be given. Certificates

will be given to all the participants and plaques of appreciation will be

awarded to all the participating schools. Creativity, content, technique and

efficacy of conveying the theme will be the criterion of judgment. Three judges

(two from the community and one from the organisers) will evaluate each entry.

It would be ensured that the judges do not know the identity of the

participants.

The judging for each category of school viz. Omani Arabic, Omani bilingual,

international community and Special Education would be separate, that is, the

students from one category of school would be competing within the same

category only. The decision of the judges will be final and binding.

The Serve and Inspire (SAI) Group have recently conducted seminar-cum-workshops

on “Role of teachers and inculcation of human values in the curriculum” at Al

Ibdaa and AsSafwah schools for teachers of Omani bilingual private schools in

co-operation with the Department of Private Schools, Ministry of Education.

This was followed by a presentation at the Conference of school owners and

principals at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, followed by a

presentation on the ‘role of human values in citizenship education’.

The Sathya Sai Education in human values programme, based on the five universal

human values — truth, right action, peace, love, and non-violence focuses on

the development of character and of the full human potential of every

individual. Great minds over the centuries have written and spoken about the

importance of this approach to education. Education must teach a person how to

live life as a true human being. It must purify the heart and clarify the

vision.

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