December 2015


Issue Home >>

Values in Education

In October, The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrated almost 4,000 graduates, comprising both undergraduate and graduate students. While it is always a wonderful feeling to present to our country and region, these academically successful young citizens, who must now take their place in society; we must continuously ask ourselves if we as a higher education institution, have adequately equipped them with all the resources that are required for them to be truly noble, respectful, and who must become positive contributors to our society, the world over. We witness ever so often, in many places of the world, and even in our own country, many persons who have travelled this road of academic success; but are in many instances, influenced by a moral compass that manifests a ‘Values System’ that is less than desirable, and sometimes even damaging to society and humanity.

Our role as Educators cannot be complete, until the experiences offered to our students, as part of our educational system, presents the correct building blocks that will knit together the right fabric that will be woven into the development of their character. Paramount to our duties as a university therefore is to promote in our students and staff, the importance of Character Education and Individual Virtue. This aspect of Education has been recognized for centuries, going as far back as the Roman Philosopher, Marcus Tullius Cicero, who once remarked that, “Within the character of the citizen lies the welfare of the nation.”

There is a pervasive view in our country that education is principally about maintaining an academic qualification, and about certification. But it must be more than this; it is also about ‘Values’ that will help to shape exemplary citizens who can contribute not only to self-development, but also to national development, which is equally important.

While there has been an almost universal clamour for skills development as we prepare them for the world of work, we must not forget to prepare them for the world of living, of sharing and giving, of respect for life and our rich diversity, of caring, loving and of compassion. Without this preparation, our society will be torn apart through competition, greed, insatiable desires, bigotry and even worse, loss of life through acts of violence; as we are witnessing here, and in the world. To this end, Education must be about the development of the whole, of body and soul, so that we create a future where there is hope for peace, progress and happiness. Continuing to do the same in our educational system, will bring the same results at best, but the reality may perhaps be far worse. The intervention, based upon an inculcation of universal values, therefore cannot wait.

One of the world’s great thinkers and leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, once outlined what he called the “Seven Blunders of the World”; with the one most applicable to this narrative being ‘Knowledge (Education) without character.’ However, some of the other ‘Blunders,’ such as: ‘Commerce without morality’; ‘Science without humanity’; and ‘Politics without principle’, are very powerful statements that are very relevant, and must be given overarching consideration in today’s world.

I believe that acquiring professional skills will not be enough for our students to lead successful and meaningful lives; these professional skills must be enhanced and guided by a strong set of morals and values. Values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, compassion, goodwill, caring for the environment and for the less fortunate, respect for human life, self-control, discipline, self-restraint, resolve, diligence, fortitude, humility, respect for the rule of law, respect for life and respect for one’s religious beliefs and traditions!

As many of you may be aware, even the ‘Preamble’ of our Country’s Constitution outlines that we must “recognise that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law.” This precept should indeed be the precursor that governs the attitude and behaviour, not only of persons in ‘Public Office’, but all citizens of our country.

Although I have highlighted in this editorial that ‘values education’ must be inculcated in our higher education institutions, I do also wish to emphasize that ‘values education’ must be instilled at every level of our education system; in our pre-schools, primary and secondary schools as well as our universities and other educational institutions. In other words, habits to life and living must be formed early and reinforced steadily at every stage. I think it would be remiss of me if I do not also mention that our ‘homes’ have a formative responsibility. It is said that “conditions in society are but a reflection of conditions in the homes of a nation. A change in the homes will be mirrored by a change in society.” The institution of family is the nucleus of our society. It is in the institution of family that one first learns obedience, respect for parents and the elderly, manners and love. It is the institution of family that provides protection, guidance, instruction, correction, affirmation and support. It is in the family that you learn right from wrong. If we lose sight of the important role of the family in society, we will put our society at risk. In this context, we must all do our part in our homes and in our institutions.

In today’s world, there always seems to be more tangible evidence and sometimes reward, of a student’s academic success, than an equitable measure to determine the quality of their character. Because of this, significant prominence and recognition is attributed to this measure of academic prowess. However, I believe that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., got it right when he said that “intelligence plus character is the goal of true education.”

The UWI over the years has been recognized as the regional entity in the Caribbean that has produced a considerable number of heads of government and state, and captains of industry and academia. Our graduates have also excelled in the fields of medicine, law, and many other notable professions throughout the world.

To this end, as an institution of higher education, while we concentrate on education for progress and development, we must also ensure that we pay attention to strengthening the foundation of our students through the infusion of moral and ethical principles while at university – for our graduates and students will continue to become leaders in our society as they are today. Moral and ethical principles certainly would not suddenly appear when they enter public life; it should therefore be initiated during their formative years, at the time that they pursued their various courses of study.

Our institutions should also prepare our students for a life of servant-hood. One of our former Prime Ministers, the late Dr. Eric Williams, known to many as the father of our nation, at an historic inaugural occasion, as he addressed the first graduating class of independent UWI in Jamaica in 1963, told the graduates, “this education qualifies you to work for the community.” In essence, Dr. Williams was trying to encourage our graduates to understand that they must see it as their duty, their responsibility to society, to use their knowledge and skills to provide service, in making their contribution towards uplifting their country and region.

While as educators, and mentors, we continue to redefine and improve upon the methodologies, available to us, as we facilitate the very important process of educating our students, we must be constantly reminded that it is indeed a complex and at times, arduous undertaking. However, the fruits of our labour will be impactful for generations to come and therefore should be governed by our values, our beliefs, and our moral inclinations; all of which should be inextricably intertwined in the philosophies of our educational agendas and objectives. That is how powerful education is. We must therefore ensure that we get it right. We must always remember that there can be no greater education of a person, than to teach the right way to live. I propose to you, that this is what character education and individual virtue is all about. This is the type of education that we must promote, encourage and foster throughout our entire education system and in our homes. I take it a step further by saying that as higher education institutions, we must be held accountable for ensuring that these objectives are effectively attained.

EDITORIAL TEAM

Campus Principal: Professor Clement Sankat
Director of Marketing and Communications: Dr. Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill
Editor: Ms Vaneisa Baksh [vaneisa.baksh@sta.uwi.edu]

Contact us:
The UWI Marketing and Communications Office
Tel: (868) 662-2002 exts. 82013, 83997
Email: uwitoday@sta.uwi.edu