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http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/11/114253/importance-religion-and-
moral-education
Importance of religion and moral education
BY DR. VISHALACHE BALAKRISHNAN - 28 NOVEMBER 2015 @ 11:00 AM
When I heard the news of a young bright individual, who was sitting for a centralised
examination, had taken his own life, I did not pass judgment, blame anyone or make
assumptions. I understood what he went through and I write this reflection based on my own
life, as a child, a teenager, a teacher, a mother, a lecturer, a researcher, and most
importantly, a human being.
Although I found the news disturbing, it made me reflect why suicide is on the rise, not just
in Malaysia, but also around the globe. As a child growing up, I heard many stories about
young couples in Cameron Highlands who drank “paraquat” and ended their lives because
of a failed love. As an individual who underwent many challenges in life, I, too, had thoughts
of suicide, even as a grown-up. Religious authorities may say you do not have enough faith
in God.
Moral authorities may confirm that you do not value life. I beg to differ. We have to analyse
the different concepts and environment in life. They include childhood and schooling,
adolescence and peer pressure, adulthood and the meaning of life. As children develop in
their family and neighbourhood, life is joyful and carefree. It was for me and many other
children. Today, children have full days but the joy is missing.
Preschool preparations and other activities are created to mould the child. Parents say it’s all
for the good of the child. But, what about the psychology and early development of the child?
In most African countries and East Asian countries, a child has to be able to use his right
hand and reach out to touch his left ear and vice versa. Then only can he be enrolled to go
to school. Until then, they have fun playing and developing in their home environment. There
must be a reason for doing so.
In Malaysia, children as young as two are enrolled in all kinds of activities even before they
can develop physically. Then there are the pressure cooker days — study, study, study. In
my previous articles, I have explained that not all children have the same cognitive ability.
Harvard Gardner speaks about multiple intelligence and the Malaysian education system
has adapted some of his suggestions into mainstream education. Yet, at the end of the day,
it is study, study, study and grades that matter. It was sad and frustrating for me as a
secondary school teacher, who saw much potential in my students that were weak
academically.
They had many abilities, except mental cognition, and today, that is the focus of our
mainstream education system. This needs critical evaluation as we are burdening students
and teachers with formative (school-based assessments), as well as summative or
centralised assessments. Our adolescents in school are not even sure of what is becoming
of them. Adolescence is a challenging period for many individuals. They have their own
expectations and this is pressured by parents and society’s anticipation. So much pressure
is put upon oneself that suicide is seen as the final destination for some who are unable to
take the pressure.
We speak so much about religion and morality. How can these two components help in the
development of a child, an adolescent, a human being? I have been teaching and
researching morality and religion for the past two decades. It is essential to bring both to the
lives of adolescents. Worldwide we have seen how societies and nations are focused on
universal values, global morality and the wellbeing of humans and nature. I see no faults in
scriptures nor philosophical religions, as they all teach individuals to be better human beings.
I find universal values being more accepted by global societies, who feel religion is personal,
and to live a harmonious life, values must be understood and applied in daily life. This brings
us to the subject of moral education. Moral education should be understood and learnt by all
as it’s not just memorising values and definitions, it is about life. It is about facing daily moral
dilemmas, making moral judgments, choosing the right alternative and living by the
consequences of the choice made.
If the young lad who took his own life was given the appropriate knowledge and skills to face
his own real-life dilemma with the support of religiosity, he might have thought of the
consequences of his action. Every child and student should be provided with the opportunity
to know themselves and their abilities.
At the end of the day, what counts is the humans we have become, while other aspects are
secondary.
The writer is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya
Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/11/114253/importance-religion-and-moral-
education
