UNESCO organizes Ethics Teacher Training Course (ETTC) in Uganda.

UNESCO’s has held its first ever Teacher Training Course (ETTC) in Uganda. The five (5) day training workshop that took place from 27^th November – 1^st December, 2017 was hosted at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi. The Ethics Teachers’ Training Courses (ETTC) is one of the main components of UNESCO’s bioethics professional capacity-building programme, targeting bioethics or ethics of science educators who have recently begun teaching, or will soon commence their teaching careers at various institutions of higher education. During the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Uganda Martyrs University Rev. Prof. John Chrysostom Maviiri stated that, the University was thrilled for having been selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to host an event of such magnitude and importance to the global agenda of improving ethics education. “Through a strong partnership with the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, the Directorate for Ethics and Integrity of the Office of the President and the Inspectorate of Government, we have ensured that we remain relevant to the national agenda of making a more humane society by spearheading the teaching of Ethics at the University.” Said Fr. Maviiri. He further urged the participants to exhibit ethics in reality, not simply in lip service” Dr. Abdul Rahman Lamin, the programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern African, Nairobi expressed his gratitude to Uganda Martyrs University for accepting to host this event. He noted that Uganda is the 4^th country in the region to host the ETTC workshop after Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa hosting the previous similar events. Lamin alluded that UNESCO seeks to develop a strong network with experts in the Eastern and Southern Africa. He noted that there is need to take Bio-ethics out to the public domain. “We should always be advocates in the building of peace in the minds of people” he said. The ETTC workshop was facilitated by  4 experienced experts in the field of Ethics and Bio-ethics namely; Prof. Leonardo D. De Castro of the Department of Philosophy, University of Philippines, Dr. Masoud Nassor Masoud, coordinator and Lecturer for Philosophy and Applied Ethics Section at the University of Namibia, Dr. Obijiofor Aginam, Assistant Director United Nations University, university and International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) and Dr. Julius Kipkemboi of the department of Biological science, Egerton University, Kenya. Briefly: Ethics Teachers’ Training Courses are designed to

• introduce participants to the means and resources for teaching ethics of sciences and bioethics;
• teach participants methodologies and methods for teaching ethics of sciences and bioethics;
• Assess and provide feedback on participants’ demonstrations of teaching skills under the guidance of experienced facilitators.

“We should use ethics teaching as tool to help the vulnerable persons in our communities,” Prof Leonardo challenged the participants. Dr. Masoud stated that using UNESCO Case Book in the teaching of ethics shouldn’t stop the participants/ Teachers from using and developing African cases published in collaborations with countries in the region. “Document ethical cases, share this cases through networking,” Dr. Masoud informed the participants. Dr. Obi meanwhile advised the participants at the workshop to take ETTC seriously. “Don’t see yourself only just as trainees, but more than just that, don’t under look a person.” The Secretary General, Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, Ms. Rosie Agoi applauded UNESCO for bringing the forum to Uganda. “We are happy, not only for the training but for integrating ETTC into the curriculum, it helps you get the skills and make you a better person,” noted Ms. Agoi. The workshop drew participants with backgrounds in teaching from the East and Central African region in the field of Ethics and Bioethics, from the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Uganda. During the closure of the 5 day event, the deputy Vice chancellor in-charge of Academics at UMU, Dr. Michael Mawa awarded certificates to the participants commended them for the level of commitment demonstrated. He noted that it was an indication that teaching of ethics is taking firm roots in Eastern Africa. “