Ahlcon International School held a national conference on ‘Enduring Value Education in a Technologically driven 21st century’ on Monday at India Habitat Centre to encourage people’s participation in education to accomplish the greater objectives of an even-handed, inclusive, and unprejudiced society.
The conference focussed on technology as a powerful instrument that can be used to indoctrinate values. It dealt with a very important question of how digital world has thrown several new challenges, namely, digital etiquettes, digital citizenship and safe online activity. And the main concern lies on preparing the children for the future, infused with values.
Along with that it is also essential to recapitulate the role and significance of heritage, culture, mythology when inculcating the values in children.
Prof. Gaurav Khemka, an eminent professor at the Australian National University spoke about the growing attachment of values in education itself, and how ethics are rooted deep in our reasoning for what is fundamental and indispensable.
Mr S.N. Sahu, Former Lok Sabha Secretary, during the interactive section of Understanding Values, Living Values, presented the rich cultural heritage of creative India that contained several instances of inclusiveness. He also emphasised on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and its significance today.
Ms. Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Principal of Springdales School, Delhi spoke about the usage of technology as mere a tool and should never be compared with values. She further emphasised on right usage of technology to enhance inter-personal interaction among human beings.
Swami Shantatmanand, Head, Ramakrishna Mission explained the diverse cultural values that is the foundation of Indian society. He accentuated the main features of Awakened Citizen’s Programme, run by Ramakrishna Mission and reminded us that education is the manifestation of perfection within, as stated by Swami Vivekananda.
Professor C. K. Saluja highlighted the role of mythology as a reservoir of wisdom and values. He compared the origin and meaning of various words from Sanskrit and Hindi which are now adopted into modern English vocabulary. He affirmed that values and technology are the two sides of the same coin.
Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh illustrated a spectacular dance performance which depicted the churning of the ocean and the battle of Krishna and Kalia in context of river pollution. When history is revisited, she said, one understands how our ancestors had triumphed many feats when technology was not there and now whatever is surviving today is dividing the already fragmented world into inclusive thinkers.
The conference hence asserted the superiority of values and the influence of technology just a tool with proper usage to explore education in all its aspects.
