Productive Work as Pedagogical Tool in School Education

In the era of globalization, the educational needs are changing world wide. With special reference to developing countries, objectives and aim of education are more toward selfsustenance, happy and healthy living in safe and pollution-free environment. At the same time, it is without a doubt that materialism and technological advancements at some instances cause youth to be competitive among themselves which inevitably causes stress among school students. This is due to education system, curriculum load and competition for achieving excellence. With this view in mind, the National Council of Educational Research Training (NCERT), New Delhi, an apex body for school education in the country, has suggested revolutionary changes in education as suggested in the it’s the National Curriculum Framework (2005). Amongst them, one of the important changes suggested is the integration of work with academic subjects. Work-based education as pedagogical medium in school education is based on Gandhian philosophy. Designating Work Centered Education (WCE) to this concept, it is considered that integration of work in school curriculum, replace rote learning, develop generic competencies and develop values, respect for manual work and workers besides physical development of children. This paper deals with the concept of Work Centered Education (WCE), its operationalisation and its advantages in making school education children centered.