Students in Delhi Government-run schools will now get lessons on being ‘happy’ with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government planning to introduce a “happiness curriculum” for nursery through Class VIII from upcoming academic session.
Addressing a gathering at the Excellence in Education awards at Thyagraj Stadium on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, “The Delhi Government has commissioned a team of experts, including schoolteachers, which is preparing
a framework for the happiness curriculum.”
“The entire curriculum will be purely activity-based and no formal examinations will be conducted on it. However, a periodic assessment of children’s progress will be made using a happiness index,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Sisodia said at a time when neighbouring Bhutan is formulating policies to ensure a ‘High Happiness Index’ for its citizens, introduction of “happiness curriculum” in Delhi Government-run schools will help enhance personality of children and influence the direction in which we are heading as a society and nation.
While explaining the necessity of “happy curriculum” programme, Sisodia said this reform process cannot be carried on merely for achieving higher learning outcomes in literacy, math, science and other subjects. “Education has to serve a larger moral and societal purpose and cannot be looked at in isolation from the needs of society. Even as we aim for economic equality, we must strive for ‘happiness equality’ as well” he added.
Sisodia, who is also Delhi’s Education Minister, appealed to teachers and students of Government schools in the Capital to come forward and assist the Government in developing the happiness curriculum.
“Delhi’s Government schools have seen a remarkable turnaround in the last three years. Not only has there been a transformation in infrastructure and capacity, but there
has been a serious effort to improve learning outcomes through various interventions,” said Sisodia.