Transform.Ed Briefing #65

Inside the Briefing: From enabling education leaders to transforming schools into institutions of excellence: unleashing the power of value-based education.

Apr 04, 2024

In 2023, the world witnessed the highest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War. Whether it was the civil war in Sudan, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, or the conflict in Ukraine, the apathy attached to these indicated the lack of global leadership’s ability to be humane enough.

Such indifference and delayed action, or even inaction in dire cases, trace a major faultline underlying our education systems, creating a rift between what we preach and practice. For us to avert such situations in the future and prepare ethical leaders requires a shift towards a more humanistic model of value education with a process-based, values-focused, and student-centered orientation. Through this process, we can help our learners reflect within and outside to become more humane with a heightened sense of personal integration and harmony with their inner and outer realities.

In our latest fireside chat with Prof. Dr. Maria Guajardo, she emphasizes that value-creating education is ‘relational’ - a process where, as an individual transforms, evolves, and emerges into a better human being, they contribute to the well-being of others. This perfectly comes into play in a classroom setting where teachers and learners influence each other and their values in unimaginable ways.

However, this path is fraught with some hurdles. Last week, we asked our readers about educators’ primary challenge when imparting value-based education. About one-third of respondents cited dedicating time to value education as a primary challenge, another third highlighted handling subjective interpretations of values, while the remaining identified developing meaningful assessments and aligning home and school values as the primary challenge.

As we navigate these challenges with our learners, the key questions that arise are: How can we overcome these hurdles to cultivate a more empathetic and value-driven educational environment that fosters personal growth and societal well-being? How can we nudge our students towards self-discovery when they are constantly shaped by systems like families and communities, whether religious, national, or world community, without tainting them with our prejudices or biases?

Share your thoughts and experiences with your global peers in the comments below or join the conversation on the Global Citizenship Foundation’s Educational Leadership Community, exclusively dedicated to educators worldwide. If you haven’t signed up yet, please get in touch with us here.

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As a first-generation learner and educator, I understand the value of inspiring educators in the lives of learners; the most inspiring educators I've encountered in life are those who never stop learning. Together, let's embark on this incredible journey of learning and transforming education for human and planetary flourishing! Subscribe to Transform.Ed and be at the forefront of shaping the many futures of education!

In service of education and visionary education leaders,

— Aaryan Salman
Director-General
Global Citizenship Foundation