HIGHLIGHTS-
- Gujarat govt. has introduced the Bhagavad Gita for the students of classes 6-12.
- The move has been taken in a way to promote the holistic development of the students.
- The decision to make the Bhagavad Gita is in line with the Centre’s National Education Policy.
The Bhagavad Gita is regarded as a global truth philosophy and has long influenced people not only in India but also around the world. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us the truth about life and assists us in distancing ourselves from superstition and false notions.
The knowledge received from the Bhagavad Gita dispels our fears and boosts our self-esteem. The Bhagavad Gita contains principles that can assist students in dealing with issues such as anxiety and self-doubt in their academic careers.
With an aim to encourage the Indian culture and epistemology into the educational curriculum, Gujarat govt. has introduced the Bhagavad Gita for the students of classes 6-12. The move has been taken in a way to promote the holistic development of the students.
The Bhagavad Gita will be included in the curriculum for classes 6-12 in all Gujarat schools beginning in the academic year 2022-23, the state parliament announced. Education Minister Jitu Vaghani made the statement during a discussion on budgetary allocations for the education department in the Legislative Assembly.
The decision to make the Bhagavad Gita is in line with the Centre’s National Education Policy (NEP). It encourages instilling ancient Indian culture as well as modern customs in children at a young age.
School education to include Indian culture and knowledge system
The Government Resolution on the decision to include the Bhagwad Gita in the curriculum beginning with the new academic session in June states: “The school education will include Indian culture and knowledge system. In the first phase, the values and principles of Bhagawad Gita will be incorporated in state government schools from Class 6-12 in a manner that they are able to understand as well as generate interest for these.”
Inculcating the values through storytelling and recitation
According to the regulations outlined in the announcement, the Gita will be introduced in Class 6-8 through storytelling and recitation, both of which will be evaluated. For example, a few chapters such as recounting of what renowned figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, and others have said about the Bhagwad Gita.
Mandatory topic rather than an optional one
Like Gujarati, it would be a mandatory topic rather than an optional one. School assemblies will also include Gita’s recitation and storytelling. Extracurricular activities based on the text, including debates, essay writing, plays, artwork, and quizzes, will also be implemented in government primary and secondary schools.
