Former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Sunday said moral science should be taught in schools once in a week to inculcate values of love and compassion.
BHOPAL: Asking teachers to impart "education with human values" to students, former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Sunday said moral science should be taught in schools once in a week to inculcate values of love and compassion.
"Moral science should be taught in schools once in a week to inculcate values of love and compassion. It can help develop enlightened citizens," Kalam said, interacting with students and teachers at the concluding function of the week- long science exhibition organised on the sidelines of Bhartiya Vigyan Sammelan here.
Citing the role played by Sister Antonia in ending a prison riot in Mexico, Kalam said human education allows people to inculcate love and compassion which can help overcome greatest hurdles in life.
Sister Antonia, whose selfless service was respected by the prisoners, generated respect prompting them to control themselves and urged them to do what she wanted, a task that armed police could not carry out.
Appealing to the youth to "navigate time towards their mission in life", Kalam said, "seconds fly, minutes fly, days fly and year fly. We have no control over it. The only thing we can do is we can navigate time. Let not thy winged days, be spent in vain."
Kalam said students can make their first contribution towards development of nation by excelling in studies. Education system should instill in minds of students capacities of inquiry, creativity, technology, entrepreneurship and moral leadership.
"It will prepare an "autonomous learner -- a self- directed, self-controlled, lifelong learner, who will have the capacity to both respect authority and at the same time is capable of questioning authority, in an appropriate manner," Kalam said.
He said that "creativity, courage and righteousness were the main ingredients of knowledge. A combination of these characteristics can generate enlightened citizens".
On Indo-US nuclear deal, Kalam said dearth of uranium has led to such treaties.
"I believe that in next five-ten years, our scientists will develop technology to utilise abundantly available thorium as nuclear fuel making us self-reliant."
"While transforming India into a developed nation by 2020, prime sectors that need attention are agriculture and agro processing, education, information technology, infrastructure development and self-reliance in critical technology," Kalam said.
Sharing his vision of developed India by 2020, he said it will be a nation where rural and urban divide gets reduced to a thin line, there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water and agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.
"It will be a nation where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination, which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists and investors and where best of health care is available," he said.
"A developed India will have responsive and transparent governance and it will be prosperous, healthy, secure, peaceful and happy, and continues with a sustainable growth path," Kalam said.
Replying to a query, Kalam said he did not believe in destiny or future, but relied heavily on acquiring knowledge and achieving success through hard work.
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