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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
CODE OF ETHICS OF THE TEACHING
PROFESSION
1.0 GENERAL
1.1 The term
"teacher" here refers to all persons classified as
assistant teachers, assistant head teachers,
head teachers, heads of departments in schools,
assistant principals, vice principals, school principals
and all others who are directly involved with the
education of children in the classroom.
1.2
The term ethics means moral principles
1.3
The teacher, believing in the worth and dignity
of each human being, recognizes the supreme importance
of the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence and the
nurture of democratic principles.
1.4
Essential to these goals is the protection of
freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal
educational opportunities for all.
1.5
The teacher accepts the responsibility to adhere
to the highest ethical standards.
1.6
The teacher recognises the great responsibility
on the shoulders of a person entrusted with the
authority to impart knowledge, skills and values to
students in the teaching process.
1.7
The desire for the respect and confidence of
one's colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the
members of the community provides the incentive to
attain and maintain the highest possible degree of
ethical conduct.
1.8
The code of ethics of the teaching profession and
provides standards by which to judge conduct.
1.9
Teaches, at all times, are to ensure personal
service to others through concern for, and
responsible promotion of the education and welfare of
children, students and their fellow teachers.
2.0 PROFESSIONAL GOALS
Teaches accept that realisation of
the goals implicit in this ideal depends upon:
2.1
the attainment of high and relevant
qualifications, expert knowledge, and specialized
skills.
2.2
continuing inquiry into, and evaluation of the
teaching process
2.3
a proper understanding of human development, and
the values which are fundamental to worthwhile social
living.
3.0 PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
In determining their conduct,
teachers should recognise:
3.1
their obligation to advance the causes of
education and hence the causes of the teaching
profession.
3.2
that individuals can make a significant
contribution to the community
3.3
that each child is an individual and that
children can differ in what is required for the
promotion of their education
3.4
their obligation to assist all children to
develop their talents to the fullest extent.
3.5
that they should respect the personal integrity
of their colleagues.
3.6
that they have an obligation to help their
colleagues to maintain the highest standards of
professional competence.
3.7
that they should improve their effectiveness and
efficiency as teachers
3.8
that they should work with parents and community
to promote the welfare of children
3.9
that they have an obligation to enhance their
professional image in the community.
4.0 PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT
In carrying out their
responsibilities, they agree:-
4.1
to be held responsible for the maintenance of
their professional standards
4.2
to use the established procedures for reporting
unprofessional conduct.
4.3
to advance and protect the professional welfare
of their colleagues, both individually and
collectively
4.4
to manifest personal responsibility, individual
initiative and integrity in their teaching, and other professional
actions, within guidelines laid down by the Ministry of
Education.
4.5
to be ready to meet their professional
obligations, in particular, to beavailable when for consultation on
measures which affect the profession.
4.6
to accept that the profession should, whenever
necessary, respect the confidentiality of certain
information, and that they, as members of the teaching profession, should render
every assistance in determining which information is to be so
treated.
4.7
to abide by, and act upon all
decisions/instructions governing their profession
4.8
to be dressed in a manner that is acceptable to
their profession and the community.
4.9
to be responsible for their own actions and
judgments and be prepared to stand by their
consequences.
5.0 UNETHICAL CONDUCT
Specific actions declared to be
unprofessional are:
5.1
for any teacher to attempt to influence the
Minister, the Ministry of Education, school management
or school board on matters affecting teaching.
5.2
for any teacher to censure other teachers or to
criticize their work in public
5.3
for any teacher to be found guilty of conduct
seriously detrimental to the interests of the profession or the
school community.
5.4
for any teacher by public statement to bring the
profession into disrepute.
5.5
for any teacher, on the basis of race, colour,
creed, sex, national origin, marital status, political or
religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, sexual orientation,
unfairly -
a)
exclude any student from participation in any
school programme
b)
deny benefits to any student
c)
grant advantage to any student.
5.6
for any teacher to breach the pupils trust or
behave in a manner that is detrimental to the students'
interests
5.7
for a teacher to behave in a manner calculated to
cause unreasonable distress to the students
interests.
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