A study of parental/guardian preference for ethics lessons in state primary and secondary schools

Abstract

In June 2016, a questionnaire survey was carried out among 22,378 parents/guardians of children in Year 1 to Year 5 of primary school and Form 1 to Form 3 of secondary school across state schools in Malta to gauge parental/guardian preference for Ethics lessons. A total of 3,847 usable questionnaires were returned (17.2% response rate). Results indicate that an absolute majority (54%) of participating parents/guardians want their children to follow Ethics lessons. This favourable disposition holds true across nearly all demographics, including whether the child currently takes Religion, parental gender, age, nationality, faith, and level of religious practice. Qualitative findings reveal a predominant consensus that Ethics lessons should not replace Religion, but rather that both subjects should be made available to students. Furthermore, the study identifies a widespread lack of information regarding Ethics education, which has contributed to resistance and unfounded suspicions surrounding its implementation.