E, The Efficacy of Religious and Moral Education Textbooks to Promote Morality and Ethics among Students: An Evidence from the Secondary Level of Education in Bangladesh
Keywords:
Values, Religiosity, Spirituality, SchoolbooksAbstract
The study found that Religious and Moral Education (RME) textbooks are necessary for instilling ethics and morals among secondary-level students in Bangladesh. The RME textbooks of major religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism, advocate similar social and ethical principles, such as empathy, sympathy, thankfulness, honesty, compassion, communal harmony, and forbearance. Despite containing substantial religious and ethical materials, the books may not always achieve the expected learning outcomes because teaching and assessment practices prioritize memorization of exam-oriented content rather than practical application. Additionally, the textbooks may seem monotonous because of unappealing illustrations, inadequate content, outdated stereotypes in story presentation, insufficient practical examples, linguistic ambiguity, and publication issues. Therefore, the research advocates the comprehensive inclusion of moral values not only in textbooks but also in teaching practices and learning environments to develop a values-oriented generation with strong national and social commitments at the secondary school level.
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