Focus on moral values in education, says Pralhad Joshi

Imparting moral and cultural education to students is more important than following the trend of preparing children for competitive exams focused only on higher grades and marks, Union Minister for Education Pralhad Joshi said in Hubballi on Sunday.

He was speaking after distributing awards to meritorious students at a Prathiba Puraskar programme organised by the Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha and Saptarshi Foundation to honour high-achieving SSLC and PU students for the 2025-26 academic year.

“The number of students scoring more than 90% to 95% has increased significantly in the recent decades. This has increased the competitive spirit among students but not cultural values. It is a matter of concern,” he said.

“The new National Education Policy has given additional emphasis on skill development and value-based education. I urge students and parents not to go around chasing marks but to imbibe cultural and moral values. I think the excessive imitation of Western culture has led to deterioration in the family system and human relations,” he said.

“As a result, loneliness and mental imbalance have become a big problem in foreign countries and some nations have opened exclusive Ministries to deal with it. We need not be concerned about this as the Indian family system and culture can ensure mental peace among children and families,” he said.

Industrialists H.N. Nandakumar and Govind Joshi, Assistant Professor N.S. Raveesh, president of the Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha S. Raghunath and others were present.