Moral and Civic Education

In order to emphasize moral education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks prescribe themes and examples related to moral conduct across subject areas and the various stages of school education in the syllabi and textbooks for classes I – XII. The NCERT has also brought out a Value Education Framework entitled “Education for values in schools – A framework” which provides guidelines to schools to identify their priorities of values and plan their actions accordingly. In addition, the NCERT has developed a Resource Book for teachers ‘Ways to Peace’.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made moral education compulsory in the curriculum offered to the schools affiliated to it. The CBSE has published source books for classes VI-VIII and a Teacher’s Manual on Life Skills for Classes IX-X and also on Environmental Education and Adolescent Education which help to foster values in children. The CBSE has also introduced value based questions from the prescribed books in the Summative Assessment II in classes IX-X and in the final examination in classes XI-XII from the year 2012-13 and launched a value education kit comprising of a Hand Book for Teachers, Value Cards and a CD on songs on the theme of Duty, Solidarity and Respect for Nature.
Universities being autonomous in academic matters are free to draw up their syllabi and curricula. However, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is funding various programmes at the Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate levels concerning Human Rights and Value Education in universities and colleges. The Commission has also been implementing the scheme of Human Rights and Value Education and provides financial assistance to the eligible Universities/Colleges under this scheme.

This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Lok Sabha question.

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