A Sociological Imperative?: Symposium explores integrating empathy into mainstream curriculum

December 14, 2023 16 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | December 14

What would it take to integrate empathy into mainstream curriculum? How do you teach empathy to children? What are some of the sociological impacts? Does empathy quotient vary from culture to culture?

These are some of the questions that were deliberated upon during the symposium on “Integrating Empathy Education into Mainstream Curriculum: Its Sociological Impact” organised today by the Carl Rogers Institute of Mental Health (CRIMH) in collaboration with IGAR (North) & Project Empathy at the CRIMH.

Exuding hope for a robust curriculum that can be rolled out in the schools in the near future, Founder of Project Empathy, Vibha Lakhera said that the symposium was initiated with that vision in mind bringing together people from different walks of life including teachers, counsellors, journalists, etc, to explore the potential sociological impact of empathy in education.

She also noted that the conceptual understanding of empathy is missing in people at large while putting across that the conceptual understanding has to set in for a child to feel encouraged and to move forward.

Lakhera also recalled the first offline phase of the project that was started in Army Goodwill School Boniyar, Kashmir, Assam Rifles Public Schools, Kohima and Chieswema, and Alok Bharti Public School, Delhi.

She said that the project was successful in laying the foundations for students and teachers to understand the nuances of empathy.

By end of the first phase, the students and teachers had “learnt to differentiate between empathy and sympathy, and helped them to establish boundaries with their peers and family and the acute observation of others emotions had deepened,” she maintained.

In phase II of the project, Lakhera further highlighted that the project increased its footprints in Agartala and Jorhat, Assam and a dialogue was also initiated on the role of communication and language in creating empathetic bonds.

“’Empathetic joy’ was introduced as a concept and happiness experienced without jealousy or resentment for others”, she added.

Meanwhile, Kezhazholie Cornelius Mere, Chairman of CRIMH underscored the need for ‘empathy’ when talking about mental health while citing from experience that a lot of students in the school area suffer from the lack of empathy and acceptance.

Stating that “real empathy is when we are able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes”, he also dwelt on several aspects of empathy and its crucial role.

Mention may be made here that CRIMH was founded by two counselling psychologists including Mere and Dr Zavise Rume with the primary objective and goal to promote mental health and school counselling with non-directive approach to counselling as propounded by Carl Rogers.

The vision of the Institute is to provide mental health and counselling services to all categories of students so as to cater to the needs of mental health and emotional wellbeing.

During the discussion, Mhozienuo Kenguruse, Principal, Assam Rifles Public School, Kohima shared the school’s experience of learning empathy through several activities while underlining that teaching them empathy and how to build resilience is very important.

“Being empathetic in nature, helps them become better human beings and they also tend to shine better and do better even in their academics and social environment,” she articulated.