‘Happy Teachers and Happy Learners’, ‘Students are enjoying their learning experience’. These are the earlier comments we heard from the print media when we refer to school education in Finland. Now, the wind has blown in Delhi schools also. On 2nd July 2018, Tibetan spiritual Guru , the Dalai Lama has formally inaugurated Happiness curriculum in Delhi government schools for classes I to VIII. Now, Happiness become a new discipline or a subject in Academics. Though it is introduced only in govt. schools, but there is growing demand from private schools and colleges to have the same in their scheme of studies.
What is happiness curriculum?
Happiness curriculum (HC) means to enhance their mental and emotional well-being. The HC aims to impart Emotional intelligence (EI) through meditation, story telling and activities in which the focus is on students emotional and mental needs. These skills are intended to reduce stress and anxiety and manage any depression.
Happy kids are more able to learn, as they tend to sleep better and may have healthier immune system. Happy kids learns faster, think more creatively, tend to be more resilient in the faces of failures, have strong relationships and friends easily. These were the findings of many researchers.
Delhi is the first state in India which introduced a 40 minutes, Happiness class every day in government schools. Mr Manish Sisodia the Education Minister of Delhi is the person behind this novel educational initiative. He tweeted “it will address the ever growing concern-level of happiness and well being are decreasing, while stress , anxiety and depression are increasing.”
Let us examine few facts. According to World Health Organistion (WHO). One in every four Indian children age 13 to 15 struggles with depressions. 11 % of Indians adolescent are distracted and have a hard time staying focused on their homework and usual work most time. Suicide rate in 2012 among age group 15-29 years stood at 35.5 per lakh which is highest in SAARC Countries.
No doubt education is a powerful tool to impact and empower individuals, society , future and sustainable development of any country. The main goal of all human activities and endeavours seems to be seeking happiness. From philosophical and religious origins to the American Declaration of Independence emphasizing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights. For Socrates . “An unexamined life is not worth living”.
According to World Happiness Report published by UNO in 2016, India stand on 118th position out of 150 countries. As per the happiness index is concerned, Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland are the countries stands First, Second and third positions. What is common to Bhutan, UAE. and Venezuela? The answer is simple, these countries have an independent ministry or department of happiness at government level. In India we have a separate portfolio of administration for Happiness in Madhya Pradesh.
Happiness Curriculum Document (HCD)
The Curriculum with a focus on meditation and mental exercise is designed with the aim to make students not only good humans who will spread Happiness but also relaxed professionals in future who will not indulge in unfair practice, like corruption or dowry. The daily Happiness class of 40 minutes include mindfulness practice, gratitude wall, morals and value based stories and activities (20 stories and 40 activities) for students 6th to 8th grade. Storytelling, meditation and question answers sessions are there in the syllabus. All classes begin with a five minutes meditation since it is an activity based curriculum so there is no examination. Students progress will be assessed periodically using a ‘happiness index’.
In the modern age of reason and science it is possible to pursue and achieve happiness by incorporating the subjects like positive psychology, biochemistry and neuroscience. Positive psychology is the scientific study of optimum human functioning that aims to discover and promote the factors that allows individuals and communities to thrive. In another angle happiness may be largely a chemical experience arising out of four main bio chemicals such as endorphins ,serotonin, Dopamine and oxytocin.
A recent research from Harvard university pointed out that good relationships keep us happier and healthier. It is the right time the educational administrators at NCERT, MHRD, CBSE, ICSE and also J&K education department to seriously explore a roadmap to introduce Happiness Curriculum in our schools and colleges from the next academic session.
Dr M. Ramachandran is Principal Doon International School.