Happiness Classes Delhi

Happiness Curriculum is an educational program for students of Grades Nursery to Eight in Delhi Government Schools. The objective of this program is to improve mental wellbeing of students and is based on the science of emotions.

It has been introduced so that students can build emotional awareness and incorporate that into decision making, with a vision to equip students with the necessary skills and environment to become purpose-driven and explore a more nuanced idea of happiness. Since its inception in 2018, about eight lakh students in over thousand schools run by the Government of NCT of Delhi have been engaged through the program.

"Today, throughout the world, we are able to make sure that our future generations become educated by acquiring the present knowledge available in mathematics, science, geography and language from the education system. We are also able to ensure that through continuous research and experimentation we keep opening new doors of knowledge in these areas. But it is also true that even after educating millions of young people every year, we are not able to provide an assurance that an educated person can live a life rising above the evils of violence, animosity, greed, malice.

We have made some efforts in this direction but the success we have achieved in academic subjects has not been achieved in this domain. Today, the greatest challenges facing humankind are to deal with conditions that are arising due to societal evils.

Children enter the education system in kindergarten at around two and a half years of age and continue to spend nearly twenty years within the education system until they graduate. During this time, we are successful in making them good engineers, doctors, scientists, managers or other professionals, but do not ensure that they become honest and responsible human beings.

The Happiness Curriculum is a crucial first step in this direction. I hope that with this effort, we will be able to make the education system an enabler for the all-round development of humankind. Although this is just a humble beginning in the state of Delhi, it is my fervent hope that many such systemic efforts shall blossom in different parts of India and the world."

Dy. Chief Minister & Education Minister
Government of NCT of Delhi
Manish Sisodia

Translated from Hindi

What is the Happiness curriculum?

The Happiness Curriculum is an endeavour to enable children to identify three types of Happiness. The curriculum and it’s content facilitate a deeper understanding of the ‘Happiness Triad’ which includes Momentary Happiness, Deeper Happiness & Sustainable Happiness.

The curriculum encompasses a range of ideas, values, stories and activities that encourage students to discuss their views, share experiences, and reflect on their actions.

It aims to ensure that the classroom is an open and non judgemental safe space for students to deeply engage with oneself and others.

What is the Happiness curriculum?

The Happiness Curriculum is an endeavour to enable children to identify three types of Happiness. The curriculum and it’s content facilitate a deeper understanding of the ‘Happiness Triad’ which includes Momentary Happiness, Deeper Happiness & Sustainable Happiness.

The curriculum encompasses a range of ideas, values, stories and activities that encourage students to discuss their views, share experiences, and reflect on their actions.

It aims to ensure that the classroom is an open and non judgemental safe space for students to deeply engage with oneself and others.

Three Pillars of Happiness

The pleasure we get via input through our five senses of sound, touch, sight, smell and taste. It is alive for a short duration, like when we watch a movie or eat our favorite food.

It is the happiness which we experience when someone shows us trust, affection, respect and gratitude, which cannot be filled by a material thing. It lasts for a longer than just a moment.

It is the happiness which is related to being aware of our thoughts, mindful of our actions and being free from internal conflict. This happiness stays with us for longer, like the happiness of understanding a new concept or solving a problem.

Inside Happiness Class

Happiness Books

Hindi books: Nursery Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5 Class 6 Class 7 Class 8

English books: Nursery Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5 Class 6 Class 7 Class 8

Visit the Happiness Curriculum Hindi Blog

Video Gallery

Stories of change

Ashutosh

Class VIII

NOW I HELP MY MOTHER
We all know and expect our mothers to do things for us. In the Happiness Class, my teacher made me realize how hard my mother works for me and I should also help her. She told me helping her would make her really happy. So I started helping my mother with some daily chores. This makes her happy. But it makes me very-very happy.

Naseem Ahmed

Parent

MY DAUGHTER HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER
My daughter used to be very irritable and got upset over little things. She would refuse to help with any work at home. But now, I see a big transformation in her. Since the Happiness Class, she has become very caring. She helps her mother with housework after returning from school. It gives us a lot of joy to see her participate in the family and even give lessons on happiness to her younger sister

Pankaj Kumar

Teacher, RPW Shalimar Bagh

After happiness programme, I feel a noticeable change in my personal life and professional life too. The mindfulness, which is a well balanced combination of yoga and breathing makes me calm, feel relaxed and more ready for the day. The stories and various activities have strengthened my bonding and understanding with students. It's such a new but a very awesome experience for me.

Mrs. Pratibha Bhasin

Vice Principal, GGSSS, Shalimar Bagh

Happiness circulum is required now a days, Our studies are marks based and children are lacking moral values and the real essence of school life. Through the activites in the happiness Classes, our kids get a platform to express themselves. As teacher, we can inculcate values in them. Kids are enjoying this period!

Chandni

Class VII

I STAND- UP FOR MY BELIEFS
I am seriously concerned about pollution of the environment. I used to feel outraged by peoples' carelessness but what could I do! I wanted to call them out but never had the courage to do so. "But after the Happiness Class, I am no longer scared to do the right thing. Recently, I saw an Uncle who refused to turn off the engine of his car while he was cleaning it.

Yuvraj

Class VIII

NO MORE SCARED OF MATHS
My mind was a mess. I could barely concentrate on what was being tought in class. After the happiness class where I learn meditation, I am not able to focus without feeling restless but also understand the concepts being taught. I am no more scared of studies, not even Maths.

In The Press

Our Team

The Happiness Curriculum has been designed and implemented under the guidance of Hon. Dy. Chief Minister, Sh. Manish Sisodia by a team of education consultants, Teacher Educators, Mentor Teachers, Guidance Counsellors from the Delhi Government, NGOs and individuals, under the stewardship of Dr. Rajesh Kumar (Principal, DIET Darya Ganj) who chaired the Happiness Committee.

Dream A Dream, Labhya Foundation, Abhibhavak Vidyalaya, Circle of Life, and Blue Orb Foundation are the NGOs selected to collaborate on curriculum design, training and impact measurement of the Happiness Curriculum.