The Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi government has advised all private schools in the national capital to adopt the happiness curriculum in order to alleviate the anxiety, stress, and depression that children may be experiencing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Education said in a circular sent to all private schools on Wednesday that a writ petition was filed last year in the Delhi high court, asking the court to order the Union government to provide online “mindfulness classes” combining meditation, yoga, and relaxation techniques for the benefit of all government and private school students.
The DoE circular said, “The honourable court disposed of the petition with a direction to the Union ministry of education to take a decision, treating this petition as a representation. In pursuance of the same, the ministry constituted a committee, which recommended that for students’ holistic well-being, mini-modules on breathing exercises, mindfulness, meditation, and simple yogasanas may be developed and shared with schools to intersperse with the other lessons during online classes.”
In July 2018, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi implemented a happiness curriculum in government schools. Students in nursery and kindergarten spend twice a week in meditation, storytelling, and activity sessions, followed by question-and-answer sessions, and students in grades 1 to 8 spend once daily in meditation, storytelling, and activity sessions.
Due to the pandemic, all schools in the national capital are currently closed, and classes are being held online or in a semi-online mode.
The education directorate said since mindfulness is an integral part of the happiness curriculum, which is already being taught in government schools, private schools should also adopt the curriculum.
The directorate has also provided links to the curriculum handbooks, containing sections on mindfulness, and also extended help to train teachers if required.
Private schools have welcomed the recommendation.
Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School in Rohini, said, “While we already have a happiness club in our school since 2016, introducing the Delhi government’s happiness curriculum is a welcome step as it will be beneficial to the overall well-being of students.”
