Development of a Curriculum Model Based on Ethical and Moral Education at Secondary level in Punjab

Abstract

Learning ethical and moral values is essential as it cultivates traditional, religious, ethical and moral vision and spiritual knowledge in youth that promotes mental and physical development in a community. The study aimed to develop a curriculum model based on ethical and moral education at the secondary level in Punjab. This study has employed mixed-method under a constructive paradigm consisting of four phases. The study analyzed the existing structure and status of the curriculum relevancy and effectiveness for ethical and moral education at the secondary level in Punjab through document analysis in the first phase. In the second phase, it determined the stakeholders’ priorities and perceptions through a Thurstone scale survey (236 participants) and then further analyzed by using Borda Count Method. During the third phase, 36 semi-structured interviews were conducted from stakeholders of society (students, teachers, administration, parents, curriculum developers, politicians, businessmen and religious scholars) from all divisions of Punjab, both male and female, either from public or private sectors about the ethical and moral education at secondary school level in Punjab. It was concluded from the findings of three studies that the aspects of religious and moral education at the secondary school level in Punjab were not fulfilling the core objectives of the curriculum. The document analysis provided the basis of general objectives of the model whereas the statistical findings of the other two phases, helped to prioritize moral and ethical values to be incorporated in the curriculum. Finally, using the fusion theory of integrated curriculum, a detailed model was presented to apply at the secondary level. The study holds implications for incorporating the developed model for overcoming deficiencies identified by the study participants for a sound moral and ethical development of young adults and overall a civilized and just community. Keywords: Curriculum model, Curriculum development, Ethical and moral education, Fusion theory, Thurstone scale, Borda Count Method, Secondary education.