Value-based education: Essential for a civilised world

History shows that for ages, human beings have exploited other human beings and living creatures on the basis of gender, caste, creed, race, physical or mental strength, economic power, organisational abilities or unity. Similarly, powerful and mighty nations and communities have exploited weaker and poorer nations and communities because of their vulnerabilities. Exploitation of illiterate and poor people is a known reality across the world.

 As we all know, powerful or so-called educated people have long used uneducated, illiterate, and socially backward groups as slaves or bonded labourers, forcing them to work under inhuman conditions simply to make life easier and more comfortable for themselves. As landowners, men have exploited the tillers of the soil. As industrialists, they have extracted labour from the working class at extremely low wages.

As capitalists and moneylenders, they have demanded high interest rates on money and real estate. As heads of multinational companies, they have imported raw materials and labour at cheap rates and exported manufactured goods to global markets, filling their own coffers at the cost of semi-industrialised or unindustrialised nations. In pursuit of exploitation, no limits have ever been set. It is not only exploitation but also active persecution of the weak by the strong. Even when offering something to others, the hidden aim was often to gain name, fame, praise or credit and to be rewarded sooner or later. Only rarely have individuals made sacrifices out of pure love, sympathy, compassion or concern. This demonstrates that money, machines, resources, military strength and political influence have repeatedly been used by selfish individuals to exploit others. Exploitation causes widespread trouble and turmoil. Can it be eliminated to save humanity? Many social, economic, political and interpersonal problems can be solved only if universal love replaces exploitation. If abundance and affluence remove all incentive to exploit, exploitation can end. How can the feeling of universal love be ignited worldwide? The key is education.

Awakening and strengthening the emotion of love can be achieved only through education that ennobles emotions. Without values-based education and practical methods to refine or spiritualise love, crime and lawlessness will increase. Discussions on human rights are meaningless without this education. Any society, however developed, will be riddled with crime if its people lack proper values education. Unfortunately, those in power often overlook how deeply progress, peace and happiness depend on emotional training and values education, especially the teaching of love.

Governments and organisations spend trillions annually to solve conflicts and problems, yet exploitation continues because conflict resolution lacks genuine moral and spiritual education. It is time for leaders to understand this and act seriously to protect future generations from ongoing devastation. This approach to education builds character, empathy, responsibility and emotional intelligence, shaping individuals who choose ethical paths and contribute positively to society. Value-based education offers the essential foundation to overcome exploitation and create a civilised, harmonious world.

The writer is a spiritual educator & popular columnist; views are personal