Understanding Lessons Of Ethics In The Primary Education Of Bangladesh.

Abstract: In a bid to understand the lesson of ethics in the existing primary education according to government approved syllabus in Bangladesh, a survey was carried out in Dhaka and Kushtia for students studying at class 1 to class V, teachers and guardians. It has found that majority students are aware of ‘right and wrong’. Their source of learning are parents as mostly found, followed by teachers and both. Majority of guardians think text books contain ethical knowledge and they are insufficient. All the teachers found the textbooks contain ethical knowledge and education but only one forth of them found those as insufficient. On appropriateness of the lessons, only a few teachers were satisfied but majority felt the need of ethical knowledge according to age and psychology. In the text books, moral lessons are found in religion, social and environmental context as a mere advice. They are available in the form of do’s and don’ts. Stories carry ethical lesson but no individual lesson/chapter was found to be available in any books. The paper has tried to understand the existing syllabus in government run primary schools up to class V through interviewing students, teachers and guardians so that the level of lessons taught, and the need to learn the ethical knowledge can be assessed.

Ethics in the Judiciary System of Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, demand for judicial independence in practice has been a much debated issue and the demand is fulfilled but expectation of people is not only limited to have an independent judiciary but to have an impartial system and cadre of people, which will administer justice rationally being free from fear or force. The independence of judiciary and the impartial judicial practice are related concepts, one cannot sustain without the other and here existence as well as the need of practicing impartiality is well recognized. But the art of practicing impartiality does not develop overnight as it’s related to development of one’s attitude. It takes a considerable time resulting from understanding, appreciating and acknowledging the moral values, ethics and professional responsibility. The judiciary includes Judges, Advocates mostly who are expected to demonstrate a high level of moral values and impartiality towards people seeking justice and ‘rule of law’. This is true that bench officers and clerks are also part of the process to ensure rule of law with same level of participation by the law enforcing agencies such as police. However the paper includes only those who either join judiciary as Judge/Magistrate or Advocate to explore level and extent of ethical knowledge they receive being key role players of the system.