DUBAI — Teachers will soon have to abide by an ‘ethical code’, set by the Education Ministry, while interacting with students, parents and the school. The regulations, which come in the wake of the announcement of a ‘conduct code’ for students, will also enforce rigorously an existing ban on private tutoring and abusing students.
The new code, already approved by the Executive Council, is an attempt to make teachers role model for students and may apply even to private school teachers.
Under this, the Ministry of Education mandates all teachers to read and sign an acknowledgment binding them to the code.
“The code of conduct for teachers is already approved and we expect it to be implemented within a month. It will set standards and underline professionalism like how they are supposed to behave with students. There are also some restrictions under each criterion.
“The ethical code will prohibit violence against students and strictly ban private tuitions,” said Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Ministry of Education in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times.
“Initially, it will be implemented in public schools and we may extend it to private school teachers. Teachers will have to read and sign the code,” he said.
“Every profession has a code of conduct and since teachers communicate with many channels including parents, students and the school, they have a very important role to play. We want our teachers to be role models and that is why we have introduced this.”
Teachers have to adhere to five specific criteria, including ethical, professional, ministry regulations, partnership with the school and social participation. Each criterion or standard would also lay down restrictions.
“In a later stage, this code could even be made a law,” noted Al Nuaimi.
He asserted that the code would also arm teachers with rights.
Commenting on an incident when a teacher at Dubai’s Apple International School was assaulted by a student and later by the parents, Nuaimi said: “Usually, we never compromise on the law and every teacher will be given rights as per the code.”
Preeti Kannan