Happiness curriculum of Delhi Government

Mahatma Gandhi said “By education, I mean an all-round drawing of the best in child and man in body, mind and spirit”. The primary purpose of education has to be to create happy, confident and fulfilled human beings who will play a meaningful role in society. This is the main moral purpose of Education. This is the most important way to keep the democratic ideals alive in citizens.

Whatever we do is for the sake of happiness. Happiness is the greatest human expression. It can be said that the ultimate aim of all human beings is to achieve happiness in their lives. Across the world, education administrators are realising the need for a happiness or well-being lesson for children. Self-aware, sensitive and emotionally mature children are far more successful owing to their advanced ability to engage in meaningful relationships.

The Delhi government with an aim to to train the young minds to make them happy, confident and content human beings and for developing their personality has launched a new initiative that introduces the 'Happiness curriculum' in schools.

Scope of coverage

The new curriculum has been introduced in over 1,000 Delhi government schools between Nursery and Class 8. The students will have a Happiness period which will be for a duration of 45 minutes.

Scope of curriculum

The new curriculum is based on human-centric education which includes meditation, value education and mental exercises. The entire curriculum will be purely activity-based and no formal examinations will be conducted on it. However, a periodic assessment of children's progress will be made using a happiness index.

Following are the substance of Happiness curriculum:

• The curriculum is aimed to instil self-awareness.
• The curriculum is aimed to stimulate good mental health, character, and resilience.
• The happiness curriculum would improve cognitive ability of the students.
• The happiness curriculum would reduce anxiety, depression, and intolerance among students.
• The curriculum also prepares the students to face challenges and find solution to the social problems.

Conclusion

With increasing pressure on students from both parents and teachers to score more marks, this inventiveness of the Government is expected to help the students to cope up with stress and learn for life, not for just a rank. This resonates the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s quote "Literary education is of no value, if it is not able to build up a sound character".

For more information, visit http://edudel.gov.in/