JBS Vol 21. Num 2. 2019 - Ethics and Values Education in Bangladesh: The Challenges for an Aspiring Middle-Income Country

Starting with the premise that a key mission of schools is to promote ethical values and moral development of young people, this study explores the promotion of ethics, values and moral development in schools -- curriculum, textbooks, teacher preparation, teacher performance, classroom practices, school culture, and assessment of student learning. An innovative feature of this study is to construct a “values profile” for students, teachers, parents, and the relevant members of the committees, to understand the state of Ethics and Values Education in Bangladesh. The methodology is primarily qualitative, including literature review, focus group discussions, expert panel review, and field observations - supplemented by an analysis of data collected through surveys. Our findings highlight the individual and collective role of teachers -- their capabilities, professional competence, and ethical position, which are critical to what the schools can achieve. The paper also summarizes the rationale, objectives, methodology, findings and policy recommendations of the report, “Ethics and Values in School – Capturing the Spirit of Education,” released by Education Watch in May 2018.