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Ethics Teacher Training Course in Ghana: Fostering Ethical Reflection and Responsible Action
The UNESCO Offices in Abuja and Accra, in collaboration with the University of Ghana, recently hosted the Ethics Teacher Training Course (ETTC) in Accra. The week-long program, held at the School of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana, aimed to enhance the teaching capacities of participants in the field of ethics.
The training attracted a diverse group of participants, including academics, researchers, and professionals from various fields. The presence of several dignitaries at the opening ceremony, such as Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) at the University of Ghana; Ms. Dafna Feinholz, Chief of the Bioethics and Ethics of Science Section at UNESCO HQ; Dr. Adwoa Asante-Poku, Director of the at the University of Ghana; Mr. Apollonius Asare, Chief Programme Officer, Ghana Commission for UNESCO; and Prof. Alex Dodoo, Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, underscored the importance of this event.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, Representative of UNESCO to Ghana, emphasized the significance of ethics education and the responsibility of educators in guiding students through complex ethical challenges. He stated, "As educators, it is our responsibility to guide our students through these complex issues and to foster an environment that encourages ethical reflection and decision-making. By advancing our pedagogical capacity in ethics teaching, we are contributing to the development of a more ethically aware and responsible global community.
Mr. Diallo also encouraged Ghana to revitalize the Ghana National Bioethics Committee to provide crucial support and guidance in addressing the ethical challenges arising from scientific and technological advancements. He emphasized that ethics should be embedded within all spheres of life, ensuring actions are guided by principles of fairness, responsibility, and respect for human dignity.
Other speakers at the event also highlighted the importance of ethics. Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, in his welcome address, underscored the sensitivity of ethics, especially in the field of research, and the importance of the role of ethics in research in both humans and academia. He urged participants to take their selection seriously and to integrate what they learned into their curricula.
Ms. Dafna Feinholz joined the event via Zoom, and reemphasized UNESCO's unique mandate in the social and human sciences, promoting a global ethics framework considering diverse technical and cultural differences. She cited several instances where UNESCO's Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights has been used as reference documents by various courts across the world.
Dr. Adjoa Asante gave an overview of the institute's work, emphasizing the importance of ethics in research health sciences. Mr. Apollonius Asare spoke about the necessity to consider ethics alongside the advancement of science and technology. Prof. Alex Dodoo highlighted the improved situation of ethics in Ghana with the creation of Ethics Committees and urged more investment in strong ethics committees.
The ETTC provided participants with a unique opportunity to engage with experts in the field of ethics education and learn from one another's experiences. The training module, designed by UNESCO, covered topics such as global perspectives on ethics teaching, the UNESCO Core Curriculum, Gender and Bioethics, ethics teaching in action, classroom communication, and sharing experiences in ethics teaching within the host country. The course facilitators included renowned international ethics experts, Prof. Hans van Delden, Dr. Marie-Geneviève Pinsart, and Ms. Manon van Daal.
Throughout the week, participants were guided through a combination of lectures, discussions, and practical exercises, including an exhibition at the Institute of Africa Studies themed “A human being is a human being’, to enhance their understanding and implementation of ethics teaching in their respective fields. A highlight of the course was the 15-minute teaching demonstration presented by each participant, which showcased the ethics teaching approaches they had learned during the program. This interactive exercise fostered a collaborative learning environment and provided valuable feedback from both fellow participants and the course facilitators.
The ETTC serves as a platform for participants from Ghana and the region to engage with experts in the field of ethics education and to learn from each other's experiences. By participating in this course, educators contribute to the development of a global network of ethics educators, sharing best practices, collaborating on research, and addressing ethical challenges that transcend national borders.
UNESCO remains committed to promoting ethics education and fostering a culture of ethical reflection and responsible action in today's interconnected world. The Ethics Teacher Training Course is just one example of UNESCO's ongoing efforts to equip educators with the tools and knowledge necessary to shape the minds and hearts of the next generation of leaders, researchers, and decision-makers.
The successful completion of the Ethics Teacher Training Course in Ghana marks a significant step forward in promoting a culture of ethical reflection and responsible action. UNESCO congratulates all participants and extends its gratitude to the University of Ghana, the course facilitators, and everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding success.
