GENDER SENSITISATION THROUGH MORAL PEDAGOGY: TEACHERS’ SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Abstract

The brutal gang rape incidents reveal flaws in our society, especially pertaining to the mindset of the people. The common moral and ethical degradation of our humanity is to a great level accountable for disrespect for women in the present scenario. If the ethical morality of the child improves in the childhood then he will display greater respect for women throughout his life and cases of sexual abuse or assault in educational institutions and the society at large will reduce. All the stakeholders of Education i.e parents, teachers, guardians and educational institutions should take the lead in this regard to eliminate the cases of exploitation of women in the society. A school culture/ learning environment which encourages conventional masculine (leading) and feminine (submissive) behaviour makes girls particularly vulnerable in the long run. Cases of sexual misconduct in schools, educational institutions and society are a direct result of the failure of guardians and teachers in inculcating moral, ethical and behavioural values in children. Though, students are taught moral values as part of the curriculum yet it is done in a mechanical manner by developing moral pedagogy and philosophy by a teacher in the classroom. Teachers can take the initiative to bring about winds of change by including "innovative ideas" in their curriculum geared towards gender sensitisation and equality. The paper discusses the role of teachers in developing the pedagogy for ethical development of the students.