Ethics Education Fellowship to Contribute to Build Inclusive and Peaceful Societies

Promoting classroom inclusion & learners’ wellbeing through ethics education transformative pedagogy

In a globalized world with increasing xenophobia, discrimination and bullying in schools and communities, our approach brings an innovative model on ethics education to the classrooms with proven results to develop safe learning environments, support children’s sense of meaning and purpose, improve children’s relationships across diverse backgrounds, strengthening social cohesion.

bookmark_border

Bookmark

play_arrow

Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Web presence

2003

Established

8K

Children

7

Countries

Target group

Teachers

Updated

May 2024

We aspire to champion a paradigm shift whereby education systems don't just transfer knowledge but focus on the well-being of both learners and teachers. A system that works on building strong relationships between them, promotes inclusion and solidarity, fosters self-awareness, empowers children as agents of change, and allows them to be, connect, and live together with others.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Racism, xenophobia, and discrimination are on the rise, leading to increased bullying in schools based on race, ethnicity, and religion. This bullying harms mental health, academic engagement, and can lead to delinquent behavior. Despite research on anti-bullying interventions, there's a lack of systemic support for teachers to address racial bullying and promote holistic well-being of learners.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Process implemented across six countries in 2023 yielded excellent results. The Ethics Education Fellowship Program (EEFP) at the school level promoted transformative pedagogy, fostering inclusive classrooms and enhancing teachers' personal and professional development. It improved learners' well-being, engagement, behavior, and academic performance, while also addressing issues like bullying and conflict. The EEFP contributed to learners' competencies in ethical awareness, self-confidence, emotional understanding, and appreciation of diversity. Its pedagogical approach focuses on learner-centered environments and safe spaces, enhancing self-awareness, critical thinking, and collaborative skills. Developed around three pillars - Relationships, Ethical Reflections, and Dialogue and Collective Actions - the program empowers children to develop their sense of purpose, meaning, and ethical responsibility in an interconnected world.

How has it been spreading?

The EEFP has shown promising results across six countries reaching 8034 learners in 121 schools. Trained teachers embraced transformative pedagogy, enhancing inclusion and diversity appreciation. It led to improved student well-being, engagement, and behavior. Teachers reported improvements in personal well-being, reduced stress levels, and increased self-awareness. Learners increased self-awareness and self-confidence, better understanding of own and others’ emotions & better relationships. Institutional responses indicate readiness to expand and integrate into wider education systems. MoE are committed to further implementation, demonstrating the program's impact and potential sustainability. Plans in 2025 include expanding to more schools and countries, and curriculum integration.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

You can become an ethics education champion by joining our Fellowship Program. Explore our website to learn more or contact our program lead, Mr. Suchith Abeyewickreme at suchith@arigatouinternational.org.

Media

Bangladesh Implements Ethics Education in Schools with Newly Established Ethics Clubs - Ethics Education for Children

Empowering Teachers and Learners through Ethics Education in Mauritius - Ethics Education for Children

CONVENING OF CHAMPIONSETHICS EDUCATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Implementation steps

Identify Anchors and Entry Points and Engage in Consultations

• Identify Anchors and Entry Points – Identify relevance of Ethics Education to promote more inclusive and safe learning environments, connection to Educational Priorities and Policies that can help integrate ethics education in sustainable ways.
• Stakeholder Consultation – Identify and convene key stakeholders from education and related institutions including those from initiatives that can have a synergetic effect and provide support to sustainable implementation.

Identify and Train Key People from Ministry of Education and related institutions

• Identify a Group of Fellows – Select and constitute a group of fellows from the key institutions with the mandate to champion the Ethics Education Fellowship with strategic support from senior officials.
• Capacity building Training for Fellows – Engage fellows in a six-day capacity building workshop to strengthen capacities on ethics education at the country level and support the finalization of pilot plans to be implemented in schools.

Design Pilot Process and MEL

• Scope Pilot Process – Design the pilot programme with a focus towards generating evidence and systemic integration of Ethics Education,
• Design Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Process – Adapt the tools provided and design the MEL process to gather evidence at different levels.
• Contextualize Resources – Adapt and develop contextulized learning materials, tools and resources to promote’ transformative learning, wellbeing and collective aactions with a whole school and community.

Sensitisation and Training of Educators

Sensitization of Pilot Stakeholders – Engage heads of schools, parents, community leaders and other education stakeholders to sensitive and create positive engagement in the pilot process towards a Whole School and Community Approach.
Educators Training Workshops - Workshops for trainers and teachers focused on Ethics Education transformative pedagogy highlighting interfaith and intercultural learning, holistic wellbeing of learners, whole school and community approach and collective actions.

Implementation in schools and child-led projects

Implementation in Schools. Teachers to implement on bi-monthly or monthly basis for periods of 45 to 90 minutes during a minimum of 4 months.
Ensure that children develop their own projects collectively to address issues affecting their communities, particularly related to bullying and discrimination, and that they involve the school community and others such as religious communities, government authorities. Create a support system. Ethics clubs can be created to reinforce learning.

Collect Data and Present Results

• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement – Presenting evidence from pilot process to key stakeholders to present learnings, successes and challenges and identify strategies for mainstreaming and integrating ethics education with a systemic and sustainable approach,
• Next Phase – Identify plans to scaleup and integrate ethics education with a systemic approach with a positioning paper that highlights policy and curriculum linkages and strategies for consolidating gains from pilot process.