What Is Character Counts?
Character Counts is the most widely implemented approach to character education, reaching millions of youth.

Character Counts is:

• A framework based on basic values called the Six Pillars of Character:
• Embraced by thousands of schools, communities, public agencies and nonprofit organizations for a simple reason – it works.
• Nonprofit - not religious or political (though used by both secular and faith-based groups, and supported by public officia...

Read More

What Is Character Counts?
Character Counts is the most widely implemented approach to character education, reaching millions of youth.

Character Counts is:

• A framework based on basic values called the Six Pillars of Character:
• Embraced by thousands of schools, communities, public agencies and nonprofit organizations for a simple reason – it works.
• Nonprofit - not religious or political (though used by both secular and faith-based groups, and supported by public officials of both major parties).
• Not a curriculum or add-on, but a powerful means to advance curricular and behavioural goals.

Why Teach Character?
A person’s “character” is the summation of his or her habits, attitudes and attributes. Because those qualities are learned, they can also be purposefully taught. And they should be — because good character doesn’t happen automatically, and it’s too important to be left to chance. The effectiveness and well-being of individuals, their organizations and their society depend on it.

Whose Job is Character Education?
It is always primarily a parent’s job to teach a child how to behave and make wise choices, but other institutions and adults working with young people play critical support roles.

Isn't Ethics Relative?
No. There are many areas in which we legitimately differ: politics, religion, sexuality, wealth, ethnicity, personality, ambition. But there is such a thing as right and wrong. In word and deed, we have a duty to teach each other, and especially the impressionable young, that honesty is superior to lying, fairness to greed and caring to callousness.

But What Values Should We Teach?
The ethical values that define good character are pretty basic. We can all agree what they are. The trick is to express them using a consistent language so that messages about ethics and character resonate across the community, from the home to the classroom to the playground to the workplace. The good news is there is a broad consensus on six words that are not political or religious and neatly summarize our common values. They are called the Six Pillars of Character.

What are the Six Pillars of Character?

1. Trustworthiness
2. Respect
3. Responsibility
4. Fairness
5. Caring
6. Citizenship

Purpose of the Programme

• A learner achieving this learning material will be able to, under supervision, efficiently explain what the meaning of the word “Good Character” is and use the Six Pillars of Character as a decision-making model to make good, ethical choices that do not hurt other people but rather help them.
• The learner will gain the knowledge, skill and attitude to be able to make decisions that are not only applicable in the workplace but also at home.
• The basis of this programme is to build the moral fibre of each individual who is empowered.
• The individual will be capacitated to realise that choices influence our society and that personal responsibility is the key to the well-being of the community and reflects the choices the individual make.