National Consultation on Incorporating Human Rights Education in the School and University Education System
The NHRC held a day long consultation on "Incorporating Human Rights Education in the School and University Education System" in New Delhi on July 6, 2007. In his Presidential address at the National Consultation the NHRC Chairperson Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu called for discovering 'Human Remedies for Human Maladies'. He called for bringing about fundamental change in the society through the learning of Human Rights.
Stressing that the Right to Education formed an integral part of major international instruments on Human Rights, the Chairperson said that Human Rights Education cannot be reduced to a single introduction of Human Rights content. He said that human rights education should not be theoretical but must be relevant to people's life. Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu said that such education is needed for everyone whose decisions or policies affect the life of other human beings. He called for an attitudinal change in human behaviour so that knowledge of human rights is disseminated. Referring to the global scenario, including massive violation of human rights, the Chairperson said such experiences suggest that human beings have to make far more conscious effort to alter the world reality and human rights education should aim at this.
Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC in his Opening remarks stressed the need to give optimum benefits to all the fellow human beings. He emphasized that relevant inputs should be provided to the government so that policies can be formulated to safeguard the human rights. Prof S.K Thorat, Chairman, UGC highlighted that what is required is the sensitivity about violation of rights which only education could bring.
On this occasion, the Chief Guest Shri Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, released the recommendations of NHRC on introduction of Human Rights at school and college level. The recommendations have come out in the form of two publications one on model curriculum for universities and the other is a module for teacher training in school education. In his inaugural address, the Minister stressed the need that education should act as a sound foundation to inculcate human rights value. Shri Arjun Singh said that the rights are already enshrined in the Constitution and only awareness is needed. The daylong consultations aimed to look into all the recommendations brought out by the Commission.
Our efforts at introducing Human Rights in Education Curriculum
In the year 1999, the Commission made an effort to introduce Human Rights Education Curriculum through the UGC. In 2001, the model on Human Rights Education was developed and introduced by the UGC in some universities and colleges. With the changing global scenario, a need was felt to have a re-look at the model.
Besides making appropriate changes, the Commission also aimed at making Human Rights Education a lucrative area of study, with a higher degree of opening and credibility in the job market. Keeping this in mind, the Commission constituted a Task Force on Human Rights Education on June 7, 2006, consisting of eminent academicians and legal experts in the field.
On the basis of the deliberations of the Task Force, the Commission held five Regional Conferences. The Task Force looked into the recommendations made at these Regional Conferences, took into account the UGC Model Curriculum on Human Rights and made the final recommendations.
Stressing that the Right to Education formed an integral part of major international instruments on Human Rights, the Chairperson said that Human Rights Education cannot be reduced to a single introduction of Human Rights content. He said that human rights education should not be theoretical but must be relevant to people's life. Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu said that such education is needed for everyone whose decisions or policies affect the life of other human beings. He called for an attitudinal change in human behaviour so that knowledge of human rights is disseminated. Referring to the global scenario, including massive violation of human rights, the Chairperson said such experiences suggest that human beings have to make far more conscious effort to alter the world reality and human rights education should aim at this.
Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC in his Opening remarks stressed the need to give optimum benefits to all the fellow human beings. He emphasized that relevant inputs should be provided to the government so that policies can be formulated to safeguard the human rights. Prof S.K Thorat, Chairman, UGC highlighted that what is required is the sensitivity about violation of rights which only education could bring.
On this occasion, the Chief Guest Shri Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, released the recommendations of NHRC on introduction of Human Rights at school and college level. The recommendations have come out in the form of two publications one on model curriculum for universities and the other is a module for teacher training in school education. In his inaugural address, the Minister stressed the need that education should act as a sound foundation to inculcate human rights value. Shri Arjun Singh said that the rights are already enshrined in the Constitution and only awareness is needed. The daylong consultations aimed to look into all the recommendations brought out by the Commission.
Our efforts at introducing Human Rights in Education Curriculum
In the year 1999, the Commission made an effort to introduce Human Rights Education Curriculum through the UGC. In 2001, the model on Human Rights Education was developed and introduced by the UGC in some universities and colleges. With the changing global scenario, a need was felt to have a re-look at the model.
Besides making appropriate changes, the Commission also aimed at making Human Rights Education a lucrative area of study, with a higher degree of opening and credibility in the job market. Keeping this in mind, the Commission constituted a Task Force on Human Rights Education on June 7, 2006, consisting of eminent academicians and legal experts in the field.
On the basis of the deliberations of the Task Force, the Commission held five Regional Conferences. The Task Force looked into the recommendations made at these Regional Conferences, took into account the UGC Model Curriculum on Human Rights and made the final recommendations.