The importance of value education has beenduly recognized by different education commissions and committees appointed by the government.
The Hartog Committee of (1929) felt that religious instruction can be given in common schools outside the school hours.
The Central Advisory Board of education felt in (1946) that religious and moral instruction was important and that it should be left to the community to which the pupils belong. Ø The Radhakrishnan Commission (1948) felt that “if we exclude spiritual training in our institutions we would be untrue to our whole historical development”.
The Secondary Education Commission’s report in (1953) favored that religious and moral instruction should be given in schools outside the school hours on voluntary basis. Ø The Sri Prakasa Commission of Religious and Moral instruction (1959) had recommended that moral education should be imparted in all educational institutions.
Kothari Commission (1964-66) felt that “a serious defect in the school system is the absence of provision for education in social, moral and spiritual values. A national system of education that is related to life, needs and aspirations of the people cannot afford to ignore this purposeful force”.
National Policy on Education (1986) felt that “the growing concern over the erosion of essential values and an increasing cynicism in society has brought to focus the need for readjustments in the curriculum in order to make education a forceful tool for the cultivation of social and moral values”.
Programme of Action (NPE) (1992) recommended that “the framework emphasized value education as an integral part of school curriculum. It highlighted the values drawn from national goals, universal perception, ethical considerations and character building. It stressed the role of education in combating obscurantism, religious fanaticism, exploitation and injustice as well as the inculcation of values”. The main function of education is to produce citizens with sound character and a healthy personality. Good citizens are the only hope for the progress and prosperity of the country. Inspiring values, ideals, proper moral conduct, life based upon good principles is an essential requisite. The ideals of virtue, goodness, true manliness from the very essence of real dignified living.