Vivekananda’s Educational Philosophy and Its Reflections on Student Values: An Empirical Inquiry

Abstract

This study presents an empirical investigation into how Swami Vivekananda's educational philosophy is reflected in the value preferences of students at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya (RKMV), Narendrapur. A self-developed Value Survey, operationalising 18 values derived from Vivekananda's teachings, was administered to a sample of 50 secondary and higher secondary students. Quantitative analysis utilising frequency distribution, median calculation, and rank ordering reveals a distinct value hierarchy. The findings indicate that Humanity and Truthfulness are the most internalised values among students, sharing the top rank. Conversely, Dedication was identified as the least prioritised value. The results demonstrate a significant alignment between the institution's humanistic ethos and Vivekananda’s core emphasis on character-building and ethical consciousness, validating the role of ideologically-grounded schooling in moral formation. However, the lower ranking of values such as Courage, Inquisitiveness, and Scientific Temper suggests potential areas for pedagogical refinement to achieve a more holistic embodiment of Vivekananda's integrated vision. The study contributes empirical evidence to the discourse on value-based education and offers a methodological framework for assessing the congruence between educational philosophy and student value internalisation.