Value Education and Human Rights

Value Education and Human Rights

According to the ethos of Loreto, as educators we have to stand firm against the current of consumerism, materialistic society and greed which prevents many from enjoying their basic rights. Thus, Sr. Cyril and selected teachers of Loreto Sealdah, wrote ‘We are the World’ which is a value education ten graded programme and illustrated books, targeting Classes I to X focusing on issues such as the plight of women, child labour, human rights and sex education. Students were encouraged to think of others before themselves, to give sustained service for the betterment of society, to reflect on situations of injustice and to increase their awareness of the diverse aspects of Indian culture.
The same approach and methodology was used to introduce Human Rights in over 100 Government Schools and other secondary schools in West Bengal. The training sessions have proven most beneficial to the Government school teachers and the course has been incorporated into their timetable along with the Life Skills programme of the West Bengal Government Secondary School Council.
From KMWSC we are continuing the value education and human rights training. In 2012 we have integrated five chapters on human rights in the Environmental Science book of Class V of the State board curriculum and in 2014 we have trained more than 1500 teachers from 564 upper primary schools of Kolkata on human rights.