Ethical Awareness and Issues Among Secondary Schools in Maguindanao Division Philippines

Abstract

The study tried to investigate the ethical awareness and issues among secondary school educators and students in Maguindanao Division of the Department of Education in the Philippines. Findings revealed low agreement of respondents to moral issues such as sexual immorality, environmental destruction, war and violence, human rights violations, materialism/consumerism, drug addiction/alcoholism, vandalism and gambling. However, graft and corruption is a serious moral problem in the Philippines according to them. Educators strongly agreed to more items than the students indicating a higher level of awareness on ethical issues. The solution to moral problems indicated by the educators as their top three priorities are: spiritual renewal led by church or Ulama, moral recovery program of the government, and making people realize their rights and duties through education. For the students, the top three solutions should be: education, moral recovery program of the government and school programs. Preventive measure for moral problems according to the educators are: religious education program, program against drug addiction/alcoholism, sports/recreation program, environmental care, advocacy against graft and corruption, and values education. For the students, the preventive measures includes: program on drug addiction and alcoholism, religious education, values education, environmental care, and peace education.