Empowering Students for Just Societies: A Handbook to Teach Integrity in Secondary Schools

The importance of education lies in its power to shape the values of upcoming generations and equip them with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Contemporary challenges, including corruption must be addressed through education, transparency, accountability and the rule of law, among other efforts.

This joint publication by UNODC and UNESCO is a response to this important issue. It is aimed at educators who are striving to inspire and prepare future generations to actively contribute to societies grounded in integrity, ethics and respect for the rule of law. The handbook builds on the first two launched in 2019.

This publication highlights the transformative power of education in strengthening the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for addressing global challenges, especially those that stem from a lack of integrity, like corruption. It underlines the crucial role education plays in nurturing critical thinking, empathy, ethical behaviour, and a commitment to justice and equality among people.

The handbook presents a catalogue of educational activities, lesson plans and outside the classroom resources designed to empower youth to reject corrupt practices and become agents of change, promoting integrity and upholding democratic values.