NEW DELHI: Delhi government on Friday celebrated “Happiness Utsav” to mark four years of the implementation of the happiness curriculum in its schools. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in the past seven years, over Rs 90,000 crore was spent in the education sector. However, it was not an expenditure, but an investment.
Mentioning that the happiness curriculum had changed the lives of thousands of students, who were now able to recognise and identify their talents, Kejriwal said, “Delhi government is teaching students to be better humans, devote themselves to the country and be capable enough to earn for their families. Children studying in Delhi government’s schools will become prime ministers and chief ministers in future. They will become top-class doctors and engineers and lead the nation. Our students will give a positive and nourishing atmosphere to the society. The happiness curriculum aims to make children happier and recognise their potential and become better humans.”
Highlighting that the happiness classes helped in relieving students from academic and parental pressure, the CM said, “The classes made students more confident. We also started entrepreneurship classes, which have done wonders in eliminating academic pressure. Earlier, students felt that if they were unable to secure good marks, they wouldn’t get a job or admission in good courses. Now, they have the confidence to start their own businesses. The practice of rote learning also has to be done away with.”
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, “We worked to change the infrastructure of our schools, built new ones, classrooms and renovated dilapidated buildings. Not only did our schools become great, but the academic results improved over time.”
Referring to a study on the global models of education to understand the work on social-emotional learning, Sisodia said, “In our study, we found that the initiative taken in the form of the happiness curriculum to make students better human beings has not been done anywhere else before. We accepted this as a challenge and took the responsibility to teach children in schools to be happy and good human beings.”
“Based on this curriculum and practice, we aim to make good professionals as well as good human beings. In Delhi, we have taken this responsibility. Now, the education system of the country and the world needs to take this responsibility,” Sisodia said.
The event also saw a session by Sister BK Shivani, practitioner and teacher of Rajyoga meditation.
