Sri Sathya Sai Education in Human Values
“You may be highly educated, but without culture, how can you expect to be respected? You may be very intelligent, but without morality, how can you earn merit in society? You may be occupying positions of authority, but if you overstep your bounds, how can people respect you?”
Sathya Sai Baba – Message of 4th July 2001
Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV or Sathya Sai EHV for short), is a multi-cultural and multi-faith self-development programme for children and young people around the world. It helps children explore concepts of right and wrong through the use of storytelling, role-play, songs, games and dramatisations.
It is a simple educational tool designed to help develop positive values in young people, so that children and young adults become fit for life, rather than merely fit to earn a “good” living.
The Programme also addresses the criteria for a curriculum for citizenship education, which is now a legal requirement in England and Wales.
The Sathya Sai EHV Programme is gaining popularity and has been developed and culturally adapted for use in numerous countries, on all continents of the world. It is being used in schools in many different countries around the world (see our video page for examples) and has received a favourable response from UNESCO, which has recognised the programme and wished it success in promoting the cause of world peace through education.
What is the particular need that is being met?
Life in the early 21st century presents many difficulties for teachers, parents and young people. For young people in particular, with so many external influences, demands and constraints, it can be very easy to lose the values that make up a civilised society.
The SSSEHV Programme seeks to help teachers, parents and children to refocus on the basic positive values that underlie all aspects of a moral society.
This is done through what is called a “Triple Partnership for Education” between teachers, parents and children, meaning that all three groups play key roles in reversing current negative trends and achieving the goal of a truly successful values-based education.
In today’s multicultural and multiracial society, with its changing social norms and expectations, it can be difficult for a young person to know what is right.
The Program is based on five fundamental human values:
CORRECT CONDUCT (or ACTION)
PEACE
TRUTH
LOVE
NON-VIOLENCEThese five values are interrelated and inherent to human beings, giving them the potential to overcome their animal nature.
On the other hand, there are human values institutes and Sri Sathya Sai schools all over the world.