Identifying and Validating the Principles and Objectives of the Moral Education Curriculum Model

Contemporary education is encountered with the issue of moral education. The importance of moral education in educational systems is evident and indisputable. The present study aimed to identify and validate the principles and objectives of the moral education curriculum model.

This study has a mixed-methods design with qualitative and quantitative parts. In the qualitative part, a comparative content analysis method was employed, and in the quantitative part, the survey method was used. In content analysis, 54 articles were evaluated according to pre-defined criteria. The resulting data were integrated to form the proposed model. The research tool used for survey was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose validity was confirmed by five experts in educational science. To validate the proposed model, 85 experts in the field of educational science were selected purposely, and the proposed model was validated based on their views. The results were analyzed in SPSS 18 software.

The designed model has an integrated approach to the elements of moral education curriculum. The first and foremost level of this model comprises Islamic foundations, and at the higher level are the principles derived from these foundations. Islamic principles guided the model objectives, which, similar to a filter, prevented the intrusion of elements contrary to Islamic values into the moral education curriculum.

In the light of the fundamentals and principles of ethical education curriculum with an Islamic approach and given the components of formal and hidden curriculia in accordance with the goals of this model, ethical education and learning of moral skills and competencies can be achieved.