United Nations:
In the wake of widespread conflict and violence across the world, renowned Indian educationist Jagdish Gandhi is advocating the need for overhauling educational content to help broaden a child's perspective from "narrow nationalism to globalism."
Gandhi is in United Nations to participate in the ongoing 65th UN DPI/NGO Conference, the annual UN conference for non-governmental organisations that has brought together civil society members to discuss the way forward after the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ends next year.
He said with people fighting in the name of caste, creed and religion, there is need to influence the mindset of children at a very young age so that they learn to respect other religions and faiths.
"Looking at the changing world scenario, the content of education for the 21st century must be different from that of the 20th century. It must broaden a child's perspective from narrow nationalism to globalism," Gandhi told PTI in United Nations.
Gandhi is the founder-manager of the City Montessori Schools in Lucknow.
The UN Department of Public Information's (DPI) Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations declared The City Montessori School Society as an associated NGO with the DPI for its work towards raising public awareness about the purposes and activities of the UN and issues of global concerns.
Gandhi said he would be meeting with members of civil societies and global think tanks at the world body and propagate his message of imparting balanced education that teaches young children about the material, human and divine realities of life.
He stressed that there is need for "balanced education" for young children in schools across the world that encompasses religious and spiritual values as well as adherence towards law, order and justice.
He said education must also act as a powerful instrument of profound social transformation that helps address problems of terrorism, violence and lawlessness.
The theme for this year's conference, a joint effort between UN DPI and the Executive Committee of NGOs associated with DPI, is '2015 and Beyond: Our Action Agenda'.
The conference would focus on areas of poverty eradication, sustainability, climate justice, human rights and partnerships and accountability frameworks.