EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS & VALUES IN TEACHING

PROF. A. MOHANTY
CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
IIT KHARAGPUR

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 Professional Ethics: The hallmarks of any profession is the commitment of its
members to a code of ethics which sets out professional values and
responsibilities
 In order to establish our code of values and professional practice we affirm
our commitment to these values and set our aspirations (Eddie Le Ardle,
2004, Northern Ireland)

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:

 Professional ethics in teaching mean a set of dignified principles put into

practice by the teachers

 These are the valuable code of conducts that are exhibited & enforced by
teachers in relation to the students, colleges, community and to oneself to
produce a profound effect on strategy of education

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 In discharging their duties & responsibilities teachers should be guided by a
set of values, which are often seen as aspirations or driving forces in
effectively shaping people’s lives, community & human society
 Many of our teachers have well understood the implicit values of teaching
profession, often imbibe them & be committed to their professionalism, still
we need to explicitly articulate these for raising the ethical standards of
teaching profession

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:

 According to the General Teaching Council of Northern Ireland  (2004) the 
core values of teaching profession are :

Trust Honesty Commitment

Respect Fairness Equality
Integrity  Tolerance  Service

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 According to Australian Education and Training Department ,Canberra (2006) 
– The teachers’ Code of Professional Practice to be based on five principles:
a) service to the public
b) responsiveness to the Government & the needs of the public 
c) accountability 
d) fairness & integrity
e) efficiency & effectiveness 

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 The code of professional practice should be updated from time to time according to
the changing societal needs & becomes obligatory for every teacher as a public
servant
 Teachers serve the public interest by 
a) being committed to students and their learning
b) exercising reasonable care & skill 
c) working in partnership with parents & other stakeholders
d) acting in a manner that promotes confidence in the integrity of teaching 
profession 

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 Each teacher has an obligation to 
a) Respect the dignity, rights & opinion of others
b) Demonstrate high standards of professional practice
c) Protect students from harm & unfairness
d) Develop & maintain constructive professional relationships with 
parents, guardians
e) Exercise leadership in their role as supervisors (Role Models)
f) Discourage any form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 Each teacher has an obligation to 
g) Advance student learning & the public interest
h) Accountable for encouraging students to strive for high standards & to value 
learning
i) Accept responsibility for high quality – teaching
j) Act with probity in their daily work activities and decision – making
k) Exercise efficient & effective resource management
l) Acting professionally & honestly at all times

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 Being the professional of higher morale and catalyst of social change the
teachers are committed to learners, colleges and other stakeholders as to the
profession itself; Some of these are :

a) acknowledge & respect the uniqueness, individuality & specific needs

of pupils & provide appropriate learning experiences
b) motivate & inspire pupils with a view to helping each ,realize his/her
potential

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:

c) work with colleagues & others to create a professional

community/networking for promoting collegiality & sharing
professional practices
d) cooperate & collaborate with parents, other academic agencies,
guardians , care givers with respect & trust for the wellbeing of every
individual student

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:

e) as reflective practitioners, contribute to the review/revision of policies,

curriculum & pedagogy for addressing the students’ individual needs
f) engaging themselves in research , ongoing professional development
activities (conferences, FDP, workshops) and maintaining the
professional integrity by assuming their duties & responsibilities (Both
institutional and personal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAZG1quHG6I

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 Current Ethical Challenges in Teaching Profession:
1. Corruption – Academic fraud, bribes & illegal fees for admission,
preferential promotion & placement, misuse of public resources for
private benefits, abuse of official power etc
2. Privatization – of educational institutes leading towards mushrooming
self – financing schools/ colleges, commercialization of degrees, low
quality teaching, no job security & exploitation of teachers, high tuition
fees

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 Current Ethical Challenges in Teaching Profession:
3. Political Interference – Favoritism nepotism injustice irregularities in
appointments, posting, transfer misconduct and unethical behavior not
discharging the teaching duties.
4. Lack of Trust & Care – teacher student relationships unfair assessment
leading to chaos in the campus.
5. Teachers’ Absenteeism

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Professional Ethics & Values in Teaching:
 Current Ethical Challenges in Teaching Profession:
6. Outdated teacher education curriculum
With no emphasis on moral conduct, teaching aptitude test, internship
practices
7. Communication & Cultural Barriers –
Lack of empathy, trust, bonding, commitment, mission & vision for the
country’s education system

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Concluding Remarks:
 The teaching community (we) must analyze the above – mentioned
challenges & rationalize –
Q1. In what sense is teaching an ethical and moral enterprise?
Q2. What is the nature of the ethical and moral conflicts confronting
teachers and how do they think about them?
Q3. What must teacher educators do?
Q4. They need to do reflection on what, for what?

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Concluding Remarks:
 Like every profession the teaching profession in every country (including
India’s NCTE,AICTE,UGC) has their code of ethics
 This code is intended to be inspirational & should be treated as a living
document with wide applications in professional practice
 It is an educational tool to help professional to redefine its values & solve
the ethical dilemmas

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Concluding Remarks:
 The process of ethical teaching should begin from pre‐service studentship &
continue throughout professional life
 The educational leaders also must incorporate ethical analysis as part of
their thinking & reasoning as ethics is at the core of a given human
enterprise
 In situations of ethical tension/dilemma they can follow certain steps to
resolve these & make more effective decisions – (Patrick Duignan, 2006)

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Concluding Remarks:
1. Determine the nature of the situation
2. Clarify the facts
3. Identify the players
4. Think of several options for actions
5. Evaluate options using different ethical approaches (i.e., legal, moral,
rational, humanitarian etc.)

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Concluding Remarks:
6. Choose the best option
7. Explain your choice to others/colleagues 
8. Work out how to implement the option
9. Take action carefully
10.Evaluate, reflect & learn for future needs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVsrsOaEcFQ

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