Constitutional values and education

 

Constitutional values and education (Preamble, Fundamental rights and duties)

Constitution: The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The constitution contains laws concerning the government and its relations with the people. The constitution defines the nature of political system of a country. sometimes we feel strongly about an issue that might go against our larger interests and the constitution helps us guard against this.  All the 3 organs of government (executive, legislature and judiciary) functions within the constitution.

Values:  Values are our means of earning, maintaining, or increasing something or certain things.

Education: Education is both the act of teaching knowledge to others and receiving knowledge from someone else.

 School curriculum, Instructional materials, Training of teachers, Instructional processes, Educational administration and Assessment procedures, etc. are the components of education system

Values in the preamble of the Constitution and education: A preamble is an introductory statement in a document that explains the document's philosophy and objectives.

The Preamble indicates that the source of authority of the Constitution lies with the people of India. It declares India to be a sovereign, secular, socialist, democratic and a republic nation. It states its objectives to secure justice, liberty, equality to all citizens and promote fraternity to maintain unity and integrity of the nation.

Sovereignty: Sovereignty means ultimate power. The independent authority of the nation.  It means free to follow internal and external Policies. Education is a path to self-reliance, economic stability, and sovereignty within Indian communities.

Socialism: Socialism means equal distribution of state properties. It means no concentration of Power and Money. Hence Educational Institutions and facilities should be enjoyed by each regardless to any sort of ethnic or social difference

Secularism:  It means no particular Religion is preferred as a national religion. Right to follow their religious customs and rituals without violating the rights of people of other religions

 Educational system must promote secular attitudes and values through its broad based aims, curricula, enlightened teachers and appropriate activities, all emphasizing open-mindedness, progressivism, rationality, freedom from bigotry and superstition and equal respect for all religions.

Educational Institutions cannot compel the children to be present in any religious ceremonies (article 26) and cannot arrange any religious education (article 28)

Democratic principle: It means rule by elected representative of the People of India. The educational institution must follow the Democratic principles in the educational activities by the following ways:

1.         High-trust relationships and shared power between teachers and students.

2.         Promote students voice

3.         Respect for student’s ideas and contributions.

4.         Sharing of diverse perspectives, including those about challenging issues.

Republican nature

A “republic” is a form of government in which the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power. It means no room for hereditary ruler or monarch.

The educational institution must the follow the system to exercise that power.

Justice: Justice is the principle that people receive that which they deserve. No system can ensure social justice until it provides education for its citizens regardless to caste, religion, and other social diversified factors.

Education and Justice:

•      Social media exposed social justice issues. Use the Social media for the discussion of the justice in the classroom. 

•      Exposing students to activists.

•      Bringing in guest speakers

liberty. liberty means freedom of thoughts, expression, belief, faith and worship. Each and every one of the country has got the freedom to choose his own course of study and career. To promote liberty, the educational institution may be following activities:

·         Motivate students to Reflect their Own Beliefs. ...

·         Reduce the Race and Gender Barriers to Learning. ...

·         Establish an Inclusive Environment

·         The education institution should give freedom to share students  ideas and choose his own course of study

Equality:

Equality: Equality is the situation in which everyone has the same rights and advantages. To promote equality, the educational institution may be following activities:

·         Changing negative attitudes amongst students.

·         Avoiding stereotypes in curricular resources and examples.

·         Setting clear rules regarding how pupil treat each other.

·         Treating all students and staff equally and fairly.

·         The education institution should give equal protection and  equal chances to exhibit their talents

·         Show no discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth and residence etc

Fraternity: Refers to a feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood and a sense of belonging with the country among its people. To promote brotherhood, the educational institution may be following activities:

·         Encourage brotherhood or sisterhood formed around common goals and aspirations.

·         Encourage team work and group work.

·         Together they learn, grow, and make the fraternity.

·         School is the most useful place for cultivating among the people of different categories of the society

Human dignity: Dignity means being treated with respect and treating others with respect. To promote Human dignity the educational institution may be following activities:

·         Treat each student with dignity and respect.

·         Listen to each students’ points of view, recognizing that there may be disagreement.

·         Do not use inflammatory or offensive language, sarcasm, or raised voices.

National Integration: National Integration is the bond and togetherness between people regardless of their caste, creed, religion or gender. To promote National Integration, the educational institution may be following activities:

•      Celebration of national festivals like Independence Day, Republic Day, Children's Day, Teacher's Day, Martyr's Day in the campus instills national temper among students.

•      Encouraging students to read books, throwing light on the contribution of nationalists.

•      Encourage the students to take a short film on national integration

•      Encourage students to read History of great man, historical novels etc

•      Arrangement of Educational tours, cultural exchange programme, Teacher and student exchange programme etc….

Fundamental Rights Fundamental Rights are the basic rights that should be provided to each citizen regardless to any social status. These rights are enforceable by courts.

·         Right to Equality (Article 14-18)

·         Right to Freedom (Article 19-22)

·         Right against Exploitation (Article 23-24)

·         Right to Freedom of Religion (Article 25-28)

·         Cultural and Educational Rights (Article 29-30)

·         Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)

·         Right to Education

Education and Fundamental Rights:

•      The educational institution must provide right to attend school free from harassment, intimidation, and bullying

•      Encourage the students Right to report misconduct of other students

•      Have a debate to explore rights. Give each team a right. They need to argue that this right is essential. To extend this pupil could explain how their right fulfils the needs

•      Use drama to explore our rights e.g. role play/freeze frame on an article and see if your peers can guess which article it is.

•      Encourage the students to take a short film to link the rights.

•      Explore Fundamental Rights through curricular and co-curricular activities

Fundamental Duties

The fundamental duties noted in the constitution are as follows:

It shall be the duty of every citizen of India —

1.      51A (a) – to abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem; .

2.      51A (b) – to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; 

3.       51A (c) – to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India; 

4.       51A (d) – to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do

5.      51A (e) – to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women; 

6.      51A (f) – to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture; 

7.       51A (g) – to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures; .

8.      51A (h) – to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform; the reason for practicing is to develop ourselves day by day. 

9.      51A (i) – to safeguard public property and to abjure violence; 

10.   51A (j) – to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement; 

11.  51A (k) – who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years;

Fundamental Duties and Education:

·         Obey teachers

·         Be disciplined

·         Maintain cleanliness in class

·         Wish everybody

·         Help classmates and even younger children

·         Not to break the rules laid by the school

·         Complete the assigned work on time

·         Participate in activities held in school

·         Co-operate with teacher