No lessons from textbooks alone: MCD schools plan to teach children life values

Academic lessons may not be the only things children learn in Delhi's municipal schools. From respecting elders and helping others to protecting the environment and public property, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) wants to make everyday activities a way of teaching children values.The civic body has constituted a five-member expert committee to explore how moral education can be integrated into primary school learning. Instead of limiting these lessons to textbooks, the proposed approach will use morning assemblies, sports, children's forums and other school activities to encourage positive behaviour.The initiative, titled 'Education with Values – The Foundation of a Better Future', aims to complement classroom learning with lessons in character-building and responsible citizenship.FROM MORNING ASSEMBLIES TO EVERYDAY HABITSThe proposed activities will focus on values such as honesty, discipline, compassion and social responsibility. An official said the committee would assess how value-based education is currently being taught in MCD schools and recommend ways to strengthen it.The panel will also suggest suitable teaching materials, including inspirational stories and accounts of prominent personalities, to help children understand these values through relatable examples. The idea is to make moral education part of children's regular school experiences rather than treat it as a separate academic subject.FIVE-MEMBER PANEL TO SHAPE THE PLANThe expert committee has been tasked with preparing recommendations on activities and learning material that can be introduced in primary schools.According to officials, the panel will submit its recommendations to MCD Education Committee chairman Yogesh Verma within a month. The proposals will then be discussed with officials before any decision is taken on implementation.The proposed initiative reflects an effort to widen the role of school education beyond academic performance. By bringing lessons on empathy, discipline and civic responsibility into everyday activities, MCD hopes to help children develop habits that extend beyond the classroom.However, the recommendations are yet to be finalised, and the activities will depend on the outcome of the committee's review.- Ends