EDF 7202 MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS IN EDUCATION
(Core to MED Foundation Students )
Course Description:
The demise of a value-oriented education in Uganda (and the global world) today is the central
concern of this course. Moral and ethical orientation to education and teaching is intended to
expose students to the development of moral and ethical theories, both in the west and in Africa
(particularly in Uganda). It also aims at enhancing ethical practices in both the educational
practice and management of educational institutions. The course highlighs relevant ethical
perspectives for educationists and examines the key values to be cherished and promoted in
educational environments in Uganda today. It highlights the essential link between psychology
and ethical development.
Course Objectives:
This course should enable students to;
 Examine the moral problem in education
 Trace the development of educational ethical/moral theory and practice with an aim of
forming a sound and critical moral stance.
 Examine in and out of school moral and ethical issues
 Develop an ethic of care from the standpoint of substantive knowledge about the link
between psychology and ethics
Course outline
 Historical development of moral philosophy
 Western Moral philosophy of Socrates, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Anselm,
Emmanuel Kant, Hegel, James Stuart Mill and John Dewey.
 African traditional moral philosophy ( the theistic dimension of African moral
philosophy, customary morality, traditional education and morality, traditional
moral values and human behavior, contemporary African morality/diversity of
value systems and its effects on the general morality in contemporary Africa
 Moral education in Uganda today: the role of media in spiritual and moral
development
 Crisis in Moral education in Uganda today
 Relevance of moral education in Uganda today
 Teacher/learner and morality
 Science, Technology and Environmental ethical issues
Reading List/Reference Materials
Dalfovo, A.T. (1992) Cultural Heritage and contemporary life. The Moral continuum
foundations of social life. The council for research in values and philosophy Washington
DC
Frankena, K.W (1973) Ethics Second edition New Jersey Prentice hall inc.
Gilligan, Carol, (1977) In a Different Voice, Harvard Educational Review, 47, 418-517.
Gonsalves. A.M (1989) Fagothey’s Right and Reason Ethics in Theory and Practice London:
Merrill publishing Co.
Kant, E. Fundamental Principles of metaphysics of morals translated by T.K Abbot Boobbs
Merrill Liberal Arts Indianapolis 1967
Peters, R.S. (1974), Psychology and Ethical Development, (London: Allen & Unwin).
Wandira, A.H (1973) Indigenous education in education in Uganda. A case study of its practice
and purpose, Makerere University.
Winch C. & Gingell J. (2005). Key concepts in the philosophy of education. London: Routledge.