22/03/2017 AbouttheCodeofEthics|EducationCouncil

Home Conduct & Competence About the Code of Ethics

About the Code of Ethics

Please note that the Code of Ethics will be replaced by Our Code, Our Standards once these are adopted on 1July 2017. For more information on the Code and
Standards, visit the Code and Standards section.

THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR CERTIFICATED TEACHERS EXISTS TO:

promote the ethics of the profession
inspire the quality of behaviour that reects the honour and dignity of the profession
encourage and emphasise those positive attributes of professional conduct that
characterise strong and effective teaching
enable members of the profession to appraise and reect on their ethical decisions.

Read or download the Code of Ethics:

Code of Ethics for Certicated Teachers (English)

Ng Tikanga Matatika (Mori)

Why a Code of Ethics?

The public expects teachers in schools and early childhood centres to treat people fairly, respect their autonomy, exercise responsible care towards those they teach,
and be truthful not only in what they say but also in what they teach.

The Code of Ethics applies to certicated teachers, as well as those who are granted a Limited Authority to Teach and is a public statement by the profession of its
common ethical principles, and how those principles are to be applied to promote the highest standards of professional service. The principles are intended to
educate, motivate and inspire members of the profession. At the same time, the Code is also a statement to learners, parents, whnau and the wider public about
what may be expected of all certicated teachers in their professional roles. It should be recognised that high ethical standards are most fully achieved by
practitioners when those standards are also observed by employers, parents, students and community.

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22/03/2017 AbouttheCodeofEthics|EducationCouncil

Putting the Code into practice

The Code isn't a set of rules that must be followed. It is a set of principles that should be applied to situations, with careful reection. Teachers should use the Code
as a guide to help them make ethical decisions, recognising questions of ethics may not always have straightforward answers.

Inspiring good practice

This Code is intended to be inspirational. Like other professional codes, it may also be used to challenge the ethical behaviour of a teacher and could provide
grounds for complaint if a teacher's practice falls seriously short.

Where other sector specic codes covering practising teachers exist, the Education Council Code of Ethics is the overarching document. It is important that any other
codes developed should complement this document rather than be in conict with it.

The Code should be treated as a living document with wide application in professional practice. Its use should not be limited to dealing with difcult issues. It should
be treated as an educational tool, to help the profession to dene and redene its values, and assist individual practitioners to be constantly aware of ethical
tensions in teaching, and help them develop principled ways to resolve issues. This process should begin with student teachers and continue throughout professional
life.

Related information
Ethical Decision Making
Background to the development of the Code of Ethics
Teachers and Social Media website

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