Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty has called on the union government to allocate funds for constructing dedicated halls in schools where students can be taught values through storytelling. Speaking during a debate on the Budget in the Rajya Sabha, the engineer-turned-philanthropist highlighted the importance of value-based education in shaping responsible citizens.
While acknowledging the benefits of the Budget for the middle-class, Murty underscored the need for moral education alongside academic subjects such as artificial intelligence, computer science, and mathematics. She emphasised that mere knowledge acquisition is insufficient if children are not nurtured with strong ethical foundations.
Murty recounted her experience of working with a village school, where she observed that children often disregarded their parents’ guidance. As an experimental initiative, a well-equipped hall with air conditioning and a library of children’s storybooks was set up. Over a year, she noted a remarkable change in students, who were drawn to the space and engaged in storytelling and indoor activities that subtly instilled moral values.
Advocating for a structured approach, Murty urged the government to prioritise storytelling sessions in schools, train teachers in storytelling techniques, and establish institutions dedicated to the art. She referenced India’s rich tradition of storytelling, citing archaeological evidence from Lothal that depicts an ancient fable, reinforcing the cultural significance of this practice.
Murty further suggested that, as part of the National Education Policy (NEP), high schools should integrate storytelling into their curriculum. She called upon the finance minister to allocate resources for creating storytelling halls equipped with suitable facilities, ensuring an engaging and value-driven learning environment for children.
