Extension Lecture on “Professional Ethics” organised in CUH

School of Education, Central University of Haryana organized an extension lecture on “Professional Ethics” on 5th April 2020 and Dr. Vijay Phogat, Associate Professor, Government College of Education, Chandigarh was the resource person/speaker of this programme. The first of all, Prof. Sarika Sharma, Dean, School of Education, Registrar, CUH, and Nodal Officer, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, warm welcome the Speaker- Dr. Vijay Phogat, Associate Professor, Government College of Education, Chandigarh, Teachers and all participants. She said that ‘Professional ethics’ are very important for teachers and teacher educators. After that Prof. Parmod Kumar, Professor, School of Education, CUH introduced the Speaker of the day and said that he is a very hardworking and sincere teacher and thereafter, Dr. Vijay Phogat, Associate Professor, Government College of Education, Chandigarh has delivered his lecturer on ‘Professional Ethics’. He said the teaching is a very noble profession which build the nation. He discussed how mother being the first teacher to the child and how the primary school teacher having the second most important role in a child’s life. He cited an example- a mother wants her son to leave the habit of eating jaggery and she takes him to a teacher. The teacher, each day, advises the boy to the habit. The mother is surprised as the teacher is not doing anything but to advise the same thing again and again. One day, she questions and the teacher replies that he himself has the same habit and until he leaves the habit himself, how can he advise someone not to do same thing. Hence, a teacher should be ethical so that the child can be too.
Dr. Phogat explained the terminology “Professional Ethics” in detail. He elaborated how the teaching profession was not even considered as a profession. In 1960s, M. Limber lain said, “Teaching is a quasi- profession”. R.P. Singh, in his book ‘Indian Teacher Education’, has said that teaching is not a profession but a service. It was after National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) got established and started functioning and setting standards and eligibility criteria to become a teacher in India, henceforth, this was considered as a profession. The speaker discussed how teaching is a profession and what characteristics does it have as a profession; a. its members have an organized body of knowledge that separates the group from all others, b. it serves a great social purpose, c. there is cooperation achieved through a professional organization, d. there is a formal period of preparation and a requirement for continuous growth and development, e. there is a degree of autonomy accorded the professional, f. the profession has control or influence over education standards, admissions, professional development, ethical and performance standards, and professional discipline. He added that every profession has a license and upon breaking rules or ethics, the license can be cancelled, but sadly there is no such system for teaching profession.
Dr. Phogat explained the purpose of code of conduct- to increase professional and ethical consciousness among teachers and their sense of ethical responsibility; to guide teachers in making more informed ethical choices and to help the teaching profession itself function at the fullness of its potential. He also discussed the ‘guiding principles of code of conduct’ like responsibility to the profession must be realized, responsibility for professional competence, responsibility of the school community, and ethical use of ICT and also reply the students’ questions during question-answer session. In the end, Prof. Parmod Kumar, School of Education presented the formal vote of thanks and concluded the programme. He said that it is a very good and thought proving lecturer which is very fruitful for all the teachers and students. During the progamme, all the teachers and B.Ed., M.Ed. & Ph.D. students are presented.