Spotlight on human values

In his opening speech, Shaikh Nahyan said: “This conference on ‘Education in Human Values’ is being presented as a way to address how the education of young people can help promote values such as peace, truth, and non-violence. These values are also at the core of our country’s vision for its present and its future.

“Today at this conference you will have the opportunity to think about how schools and universities, faculty and staff, curriculum and services, can prepare students to understand and incorporate these universal human values as a basis for living moral, productive, and fulfilling lives.”

Presenting a model on Human Values Integrated Instructional Model, Art-ong Jumsai Na Ayudhya, Secretary to the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “Our environment keeps changing, technology changes at a rapid pace, the demand and requirement of our community are also changing all the time. We are also dealing with many different countries, different languages, different religions, cultures and traditions. There is thus a need for a model of instruction that can cope with the changes that are taking place rapidly as well as the diversity of languages, cultures and traditions.”

Presenting her ‘Preview to Education in Human Values Programme’, Angela Loraine Burrows, International Trainer of education in Human Values, said: “We are living in a world of tremendous scientific and technological change. The discoveries in the field of medicine and science and the advancement in the computer industries for example, have transformed the lives of millions of people around the world.

“Despite all these developments, we must ask ourselves: Are we any nearer to creating peaceful and harmonious societies for our children to inherit? The answer is resoundingly 'no'. There is more crime and violence than ever before.”

She also said that ‘Education in Human Values’ is a programme to elicit or draw out the values or goodness from within each child. “Learning should be a joyful and exciting experience, a journey or exploration and discovery,” she added.

“Silent sitting is one of the most important technique, as it is a tool to quieten the mind and acquiring peace and serenity. In the past, prayer was an essential part of life for most people, regardless of what culture or religion they came from. Music is a direct way to the heart and besides, there are a very few children who do not enjoy singing. Group singing is an invaluable teaching method that not only brings relaxation and joy into the classroom but is also an excellent tool for stimulating the memory and instilling the child with positive thoughts and feelings.

“If you tell me, I will forget, if you show me I will remember. If you involve me, I will understand. Group activities are the involvement. Story telling is one of the oldest forms of teaching. Education in Human Values is a programme that can be used in any school and with any curriculum. It is the integration of values into all subjects and activities as well as a separate value classes,” she explained.

In his speech, GB Choithram Jethwani, Chairman of Choithram Group, said: “Whoever tries to understand the human values of truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence properly, who practices these values and propagates them with zeal and sincerity, can alone be described as a truly educated person.”

The conference, organised by Serve and Inspire Group-SAI, was attended by businessmen, officials, VIPs, university faculty members, managers and supervisors of different high schools.