Happiness Curriculum is a new and unique initiative in the field of education in India, which has been designed keeping in mind the overall development of children. This initiative was launched by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2018 and is the first such curriculum in the world that focuses on teaching mindfulness and social-emotional skills to children every day. This curriculum has reached more than 8 lakh students from class nursery to class VIII in more than 1000 schools of Delhi Government.
In this article, we will learn in detail about the importance of this happiness curriculum, its objectives, the process of its implementation, challenges, reasons for success, and its effects.
Changing Environment of Children and Challenges of Education
The social and economic environment in which today’s children are growing up is quite unstable and uncertain. Rapid changes in society, economic inequalities, excessive expansion of the digital world are having a profound impact on the lives of children. Many children are growing up with limited resources and it becomes difficult for them to play, read books, and have social experiences. On the other hand, some children are more influenced by digital media, due to which their psychological and social development can be affected.
The problem of schools is not limited to the level of education only. Children also have to face family problems, complexities of friendships and relationships, mental and physical health challenges. All these factors hinder the learning and development of children. The National Crime Records Bureau report shows that in 2020, about 31 children under the age of 18 committed suicide every day due to mental pressure.
The Purpose of Education is Not Only Knowledge, But Also Happiness and Health
The purpose of education is not only to give bookish knowledge, but also to prepare children to live a confident, responsible, and happy life. According to the World Happiness Report 2015, in schools where children’s well-being and happiness are given priority, children not only learn better but also have greater success in life.
Happiness Curriculum in Delhi: A New Experiment
In 2018, Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia turned a dream into reality. His goal was to make schools not just a place of study for children, but a place of happiness, learning, and growth. With this thought, the Delhi government prepared the Happiness Curriculum and implemented it in more than 1000 government schools.
This curriculum focuses on developing children’s socio-emotional abilities such as mindfulness, self-awareness, critical thinking, self-reflection, and other social skills. In the classrooms, efforts are made to engage children through various methods such as games, storytelling, discussions, and role-play.
Daily Outline of the Happiness Curriculum
Under this curriculum, there is a class of about 40 minutes daily, which is for students from class nursery to VIII. The outline of the week is as follows:
- Monday: Mindfulness practice
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Listening to stories
- Thursday and Friday: Various activities
- Saturday: Self-expression
Each class begins with a 5-minute mindfulness practice, followed by a 10-minute story or activity. Then there is a 20-minute discussion among children in which they can share their thoughts. Finally, there is another 5-minute mindfulness practice.
This curriculum is completely child-centered. Half the time is kept for discussion and expression by children so that every child can express himself. The purpose of repeating mindfulness every day is to make children aware of their thoughts and feelings.
Key Objectives of the Happiness Curriculum
- Develop the habit of mindfulness in children
- Increase self-awareness
- Teach self-control skills
- Provide social skills necessary to build healthy and positive relationships
- Promote critical thinking and decision-making ability
The government ensures that teachers and trainers themselves are also equipped with these skills, so that they can better guide children.
Features and Innovation of the Happiness Curriculum
- This is the first social-emotional learning curriculum to be incorporated into the public school education system of India.
- It is adjusted to the daily school time of children.
- The curriculum is practical and connected to their lives, making it easier for children to understand.
- Teachers can adjust the studies according to the pace of the children, which prevents rote learning.
- Teachers are given regular training so that they can create a safe and supportive environment for children.
Success and Impact
After four years of implementation, the curriculum has reached over 8 lakh students in over 1000 government schools in Delhi.
A study conducted by the Brookings Institution India Center in 2020 showed that children’s self-awareness, understanding of others, and communication skills improved significantly. Mindfulness was found to be strong across all classes, while critical thinking developed the most in Class 6.
In addition, children’s relationship with the teacher improved, they became more active in class, attention and focus increased. Teachers also changed the way they planned their classes and increased collaboration.
Challenges and Learnings
- It was difficult to get the support of many stakeholders for this curriculum in the initial phase, as it was different from the traditional exam-based curriculum.
- Teachers’ training was a big challenge as they had to learn to teach in a new way.
- The implementation of this curriculum was affected by the closure of schools due to the Covid pandemic.
- Creating suitable measurement tools for impact evaluation has been difficult, as measuring social-emotional skills is complex.
Prerequisites for Success
- Clear objectives and strong leadership
- Trained human resources with expertise in social-emotional learning
- Conducting happiness classes regularly
- Continuous feedback from stakeholders and making improvements
Impact and Expansion of this Curriculum
This curriculum is now being adopted in private schools in Delhi as well. About 200 private schools have voluntarily implemented it.
The Uttarakhand government has also developed a social-emotional learning curriculum in its 20,000 schools, inspired by the Happiness Curriculum.
Importance of Happiness Curriculum in Post-Pandemic Education
Schools remained closed after the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting the psychological and educational development of children. The Happiness curriculum helped to provide a safe, happy, and confident environment to children, making them ready to learn again.
Some Important Facts
- The curriculum was launched by the Dalai Lama.
- It was honored for education innovation by the WISE Awards in 2021.
- Many highly respected leaders from India and abroad have praised the curriculum, such as the King and Queen of the Netherlands, former US First Lady Melania Trump, and former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.
Conclusion
The Happiness curriculum has brought a revolutionary change in the Indian education system. It not only improves the way children study but also makes them mentally strong, self-reliant, and happy. With the dedication of schools and teachers, this initiative is bringing positive changes in the lives of millions of children in the country.
Later, when this curriculum spreads across India, it will definitely help in making our country a happy, educated, and socially empowered nation.
