Teachers’ Education for Value Based Education in India

Venue - Gandhi Smirti and Darshan Samiti, Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi

Link - http://iaseve.org.in/

Nina, Diane de Terra (USA), Jimmy Lama (Nepal), and Rodica Pop (Romania) all representing COE attended the Teacher Education program for Peace and Harmony in Delhi, India sponsored by the Gandhi Foundation. In addition Ralph Singh joined us. Expected at this conference were 250 educators but instead over 700 arrived to attend. This is an indication of the deep soulful inner plea of high level administrators, academics, teachers, and even government officials for value based education. It was explained to us that the government in its desire for non-bias education had become so secular that it was almost considered "communist" in style. No values and thus, the loss of the heritage of India. This conference's major indicator was a family whose grandfather was a Swami and had initiated a non-conforming deemed university based on values and a holistic approach. Other sponsors were the Global Harmony Foundation and the International Educators for World Peace; both of which Nina is a well-established member within the groups.

At this meeting there was such intense desire to revamp the educational system before further loss of human values that each of the 700 participants wanted an opportunity to read from their papers. This was overwhelming and quite repetitive, yet the overlap indicated the basis for building a platform for an Institute of Peace and Harmony.

Following the 3-day conference the visitors from different countries, plus some 50 guests, took a train overnight to an oasis in the dessert. There we continued to hear speeches, but also do a short training. Most importantly, this is an existing university that is totally based on integrative studies from pre-school, with an small orphanage, to university and PhD level. This university offers chance to study in schools ranging from ayurvedic medicine to modern technology, but with a student population dedicated to the principles of living in harmony and peace. The university and all proceedings were based on Gandhi's values. The atmosphere and congeniality was so inspiring as they live the life of a family within the structure of an extended school with gardens and participatory cooking with a student population of 50,000 (6000 being residential). Their intent is to combine the results of the conference with the continued effort to build an institute of academic research and vigor for India.

By Nina Meyerhof