What Is The Educational Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi ?
It is hard to find someone who is not familiar with Mahatma Gandhi. The paragon of peace spread wisdom where he could. When asked about True education Mahatma Gandhi said: “The real difficulty is that people have no idea of what education truly is. We assess the value of education in the same manner as we assess the value of land or of shares in the stock-exchange market. We want to provide only such education as would enable the student to earn more. We hardly give any thought to the improvement of the character of the educated. The girls, we say, do not have to earn; so why should they be educated? As long as such ideas persist there is no hope of our ever knowing the true value of education.”
The educational philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi was quite firm as it was his values that led to a civilized and independent India. Education should not be regarded as something that teaches the students of the future but it also reflects the society’s fundamental values and the individuals who helped compose it.
The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi have certainly left their mark on the hearts of the general people and the pages of the books.
It is believed by many that the educational philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi was because of his experience in South Africa. During his time in South Africa he not only learned about politics but also learned how vital education is for a country to thrive. He appealed to his countryman to take advantage of the education system. In the later thirties Gandhi became enraged that the western education was enslaving his nation.
Gandhi was very disappointed in his fellow Indians who accepted the foreign tongue to be used in court, newspapers, official documents and education. The educational philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi which he introduced later on was quite radical in nature.
Mahatma Gandhi proposed that productive handicrafts were to be included in the school curriculum. The productive handicrafts were not to be just simply introduced but they would be like any other compulsory subjects.
This educational philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi served a very significant purpose. The art of crafting belonged only to the lower stratum of the traditional social hierarchy. This category was known as ‘untouchables’. Children from the low born families had limited educational opportunities. By establishing a basic educational system for all students Gandhi transformed the meaning of education in the society and thus transforming the society itself.
The educational philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi also helped the schools bear their own weight. Bank then most people could not afford to send their children to the schools unless the school could generate the resource required from within. This way all the schools were self-supporting and remain independent from political influence.
Mahatma Gandhi believed that manual work should not be treated as inferior to mental work. The most important teaching of Mahatma Gandhi was that a society should be self-reliant and self-respecting to prosper as one.