Training under way for Delhi govt. school teachers in Rashtraneeti, Science of Living, NEEEV courses
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is training principals and teachers of Delhi government schools in three new subjects — Science of Living, New Era of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem & Vision (NEEEV), and Rashtraneeti. While training sessions for NEEEV and Rashtraneeti courses were started in the last week of July, the council has scheduled a training session for teachers in the Science of Living course for August 11.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had, in her March 25 budget speech, made the announcement about introducing these courses to students 'from KG to Class 12' in all Delhi government schools.
The three subjects will replace the courses introduced under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government — Happiness curriculum (in 2018), Entrepreneurship Mindset programme (2019), and Deshbhakti curriculum (2021).
The SCERT is preparing to issue detailed guidelines on the courses. However, it is yet to declare the date when these programmes will be rolled out. Earlier, officials had said that Rashtraneeti would be launched on August 15, Independence Day.
'Similar ideas'
A principal who attended the training sessions said, 'The idea behind the programmes is similar to what was being taught earlier, but there are some minor changes, such as the new course names.'
The subjects introduced under the previous government have not been taught in government schools since February, when the BJP came to power in Delhi, said the principal, adding that teachers have since used the periods allotted to those courses to complete the school syllabus.
Another principal, who also did not wish to be named, said, 'The Science of Living programme is very similar to the Happiness curriculum, comprising meditation and yoga. In our school, we no longer teach those subjects. But our teachers do hold yoga classes in the mornings to help students remain energetic throughout the day.'
To be sure, the Science of Living programme is not the same as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's The Art of Living Foundation. However, Education Minister Ashish Sood had, in an interview to The Hindu in May, said the course will incorporate the spiritual leader's teachings, along with those of Patanjali co-founder Baba Ramdev and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation.
'Ethical values'
On August 7, the SCERT issued a circular about a one-day training programme on the Science of Living course scheduled for August 11. It described the course as 'a holistic educational initiative of the Directorate of Education, designed to integrate self-awareness, emotional well-being, ethical values, resilience, and social responsibility into the everyday learning experiences of students'.
The circular added that the event would be held for 'Master Trainers' or teachers who will subsequently pass on the learnings to other government school teachers. It also stated that the 'Master Trainers' will be trained in the 'core philosophy, vision, and structure' of the Science of Living programme.
Similar training sessions for NEEEV and Rashtraneeti courses were started in the last week of July.
An earlier SCERT circular said the NEEEV programme is aimed at 'integrating entrepreneurship education into the school curriculum for students of Classes 8 to 12 in Delhi government schools'.
Another circular on July 31 defined Rashtraneeti as 'a comprehensive, value-driven educational initiative designed to integrate civic consciousness, national pride, leadership skills, ethical governance, and active civic participation for students'.
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