Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay stressed the need for values education in Catholic educational institutions in India.
The prelate, one of the cardinal advisers of Pope Francis, urged dioceses, religious congregations, educational institutions, and all those involved in education in India to implement the National Curriculum for Value Education (NCVE) to help form the youth and “promote genuine personal development and excellence.”
Cardinal Gracias was speaking at the launch of the curriculum at the end of the National Synod of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) in Bangalore on July 29.
Cardinal-Designate Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of CCBI and archbishop of Goa and Daman, said the aim of the curriculum is to inculcate among students values that will help them become responsible citizens and “wholesome individuals” who are committed to the building of a better society.
“The curriculum is inclusive of personal, moral, spiritual, emotional, behavioral, social, cultural, aesthetic and patriotic values,” said the cardinal-designate.
“It lays special emphasis on constitutional values, fundamental rights, other human rights, child rights, besides treating some relevant issues of adolescents and life skills,” he added.
The CCBI series of values education books includes “purposeful” and “action-oriented teachings” to aid educators. Each book comes with guidelines for educators on how to use the series.
