Teaching Moral and Ethics in Primary Education: Practices and Challenges

Education

The study was intended to explore the teaching of moral and ethics in primary education. It also interpreted and conceptualized student's moral values which affect the next schooling steps. In the process of teaching learning, student's moral values are considered as a long life process. This study examines how moral and ethical development is promoted by the school curriculum, textbooks, teacher's performances, classroom practices, school culture, and school learning. The study was carried out qualitative in nature and was guided by the explorative approach. Data were collected from two government primary schools of one upazila in a District of Bangladesh. An in-depth interview with the teachers, focus group discussion, whole school observation and document review methods were used to collect information. After collecting data, it was managed and analyzed using content analysis technique according to the different themes emerged from the research questionnaire. Most of the teacher and students perceived that moral and ethics mean good or bad, legal or illegal and good practice in our personal life like speaking the truth, showing respect to elders, helping others, showing good behavior, attending school regularly, obeying parents and following rules and regulations. Both teachers and students mentioned that students learn moral and ethical values in schools, home and society. They also said that students learn moral values by following family, religion and culture values and norms as well as talking to friends, sharing things, caring others, ability to cope with the friends and new environment, working in a group, interacting with others, solving problems, understanding others feelings and oaths. Teacher teaches the moral values through different activities in the schools such as assembly, social and class activities. Activity showed it is neglected in the curriculum as well as in the school systems. Teachers emphasized that moral and ethics should be taught as separate subject and include in PEC exam. The study confirms that schools play a vital role to teaching moral and ethical values. Study suggests that the teachers should be trained and curriculum should be revised and adds moral and ethical values. It is also suggested that Government has to monitor school’s activities and ensure teaching moral and ethics. Finally, the realization of the study offers how teaching moral and ethical practice can be an innovation of the institutional precedent.

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