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Ethics, debates on civic issues in govt schools from April

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Express news service

Posted: Feb 17, 2008 at 0122 hrs IST

New Delhi, February 16 In a city often derided for its lack of civic sense, the Education department is trying to brush up manners and social awareness among its youngest citizens. When the new academic session begins this April, it will be compulsory for government schools across Delhi to run civic clubs.

Topics up for discussion will be wide-ranging. Starting from the basics — why it’s important not to litter or urinate on the side of the road — to the ins-and-outs of the voting system and the laws and ethics of organ and blood donation, the clubs will aim to unleash a new social consciousness across Delhi’s schools.

“Children are great messengers for change,” said Education Secretary Rina Ray, citing the role of students in promoting the anti-fire cracker campaign. “What we do today will determine Delhi’s tomorrow,” she added.

The upcoming Commonwealth Games are a clear inspiration behind the clubs. But Ray said an overhaul of the city’s social etiquette is long overdue in any case: “It is also an extension of the Bhagidari system.”

Following a trial run in 200 schools last year, two designated teachers in each of the 900-odd government schools will implement the clubs, with support from other teachers. While no specific training has been outlined in the run-up to the new session, Ray said the Education department has been holding sensitisation programmes, introducing batches of teachers to civic sense topics during the past year. “We plan on initiating specific training workshops in the summer holidays,” said Ray, adding, “We are also looking at promoting things such as rain water harvesting at home, for example.”

In a move complementing the launch of the civic clubs, the syllabus for Classes XI and XII is to be revised to include a weekly debate where students prepare speeches and outline measures they would take if they were the chief minister of Delhi or the Prime Minister of India. Ray said: “It’s a chance for kids to think outside of the box, for their imaginations to run riot.”

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