HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHING OF BIOETHICS IN NEW-ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN

An International Bioethics Education Survey was conducted in Australia (A), Japan (J) and New Zealand (NZ) in mid-1993. National random samp les of high schools were selected, and mail response questionnaires we re sent to a biology (b) and a social studies (s) teacher at each scho ol through the principals. The number of respondents and response rate were: NZb 206 (55%), NZs 96 (26%), Ab 251 (48%), As 114 (22%), Jb 560 (40%) and Js 383 (27%). This paper compares knowledge and teaching of 15 selected topics related to bioethics and biotechnology, with parti cular focus on the teaching of social, ethical and environmental issue s of in vitro fertilisation, prenatal diagnosis, biotechnology, nuclea r power, pesticides and genetic engineering. The survey found that the se issues were, generally, covered more in biology classes than in soc ial science classes; and that there were differences in coverage among the three countries, with most coverage in Australia and least in Jap an. Open questions looked at images of bioethics, and the reasons why about 90% of teachers thought bioethics was needed in education. Open questions on teaching materials, current and desired are also discusse d. The data suggest a need for the development of more and higher qual ity materials, for the moral education that is conducted, especially i n biology and social studies classes.