No Brahma Kumaris,HRD wants Ramakrishna Mission

Interviewing to put an end to the tie-up between the Brahma Kumari organisation and Kendriya Vidyalayas for value education...

Interviewing to put an end to the tie-up between the Brahma Kumari organisation and Kendriya Vidyalayas for value education lessons after an Indian Express report on the issue,the HRD Ministry is set to evolve a full-fledged Value Education curriculum for schools. A Rs 100-crore plan to partner with the Ramakrishna Paramhans foundation to develop Value Education content for schools has also got in-principle approval,sources said.

Meanwhile,HRD Minister Kapil Sibal is learnt to have sought a response from the Kendriya Vidyalya Sangathan over their tie-up with the Brahma Kumaris to impart weekly lessons in Value Education. He has directed the KVs to put a stop to any further association with the organisation pending the new Value Education format being prepared by the Ministry.

The National Committee on Commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekanand chaired by the PM Manmohan Singh has reportedly suggested a partnership with Ramakrishna Paramhans Maths and Missions to propagate the Swamis teachings in schools. A Swami Vivekanand Chair is also proposed to be set up in the University of Chicago to commemorate Swami Vivekanands famous lecture at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago on 11th September 1893. The high-profile committee includes a number of cabinet ministers and academics on board besides UPA president Sonia Gandhi. The proposals have got in-principle approval from the National Committee on the Celebrations and will roll out soon,sources said.

The issue of value education had figured prominently in Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs address when the Committee met for the first time last month. I am happy that among the proposals we have received is one from the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission in Belur that is based on this theme… I think that thought should be given to how we can mainstream some of Swami Vivekanandas ideas on education into our school and college curricula, the PM had said.