Development research on unitary moral learning programme which tackles various moral education issues, with a focus on the 'special subject of moral education'
Unfortunately, racism, cultural and religious discrimination, homophobia and other forms of discrimination remain prevalent in society. Instilling the key tenets of ethics and morality is important in helping overcome these issues. This starts at an early age with the education of schoolchildren and Yoshio Oshitani is a researcher based at Mukogawa Women's University, Japan, who is exploring moral education and social issues in schools. Oshitani's focus is on cultivating moral judgement, moral sentiment and motivation to practice morality among schoolchildren. Ultimately enabling them to be raised to live independently with moral practice. To do this, it is important to address existing issues in the Japanese school system and introduce a focus on moral education. As such, Oshitani and his team have developed a class whereby one hour a week schoolchildren use textbooks and other teaching materials to understand moral values that can enable us all to live better and consider moral events and situations from multiple perspectives. The development of each child is monitored through individual evaluation, (evaluating areas of growth) with their sense of moral values considered. Ultimately, Oshitani believes that if children can be introduced to morality from an early age, this will lead to a better, more accepting future society.