-ETHICSSTUDENT/LECTURER,LECTURER/
LECTURER RELATIONSHIPS
1
P. PASHAPA
OUTLINE
2
 Defining ethics
 Some Observations
 Lecturer roles and obligations
 Unethical behaviours
 Effects on students and lecturers
 Benefits of good ethical behaviour
Common Occurrences
3
 Thigh for a pass
 Teacher writes exam for student
 Exam scripts go missing
 Lecturer sells degree certificates
 Examinations leaked
 Examination question papers circulating in hostels
 Lecturer proposal captured on cell phone
 Students drugged and raped during a party
Why Ethics
4
 A means of deciding on a course of action
 Students spend a great part of their lives at school
and therefore educational institutions contribute
significantly to the quality of their lives
 Teachers/lecturers turn into very important people
due to the impact they make while teaching
Defining Ethics
5
 The right vs the wrong
 The good vs the evil
 Moral duty
 Moral obligation
 Moral philosophy
 A system of moral values
 A guide for action
 Values and associated behaviours
Some Observations
6
 The education profession is vested by the public with
trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals
of professional service
 Students’ expectations on lecturers’ actions are
higher regarding ethics
 The collective and individual action of a member will
affect the overall image of the institution
Obligations: You shall not
7
• Deny the student access to varying points of view
• Unreasonably restrain the student from independent
action in the pursuit of learning
• Deliberately suppress or distort subject matter
relevant to the student’s progress
• Intentionally expose the student to embarassment or
belittling
• Exclude any student from participating in any
programme on the basis of race, sex, religion etc
•Deny any benefits to any student on the basis of
race, creed, colour, culture, sexual orientation etc
•Grant any advantage to any student on the basis
of race, colour, creed etc
•Use professional relationships with students for
private advantage
•Disclose information about students obtained in
the course of professional service
8
Lecturer/Student Relationship
9
 There has to be a sort of closeness between a student
and his/her lecturer
 Such closeness must be cordial and tolerant
 The lecturer should always be on the lookout for
signs of the development of unethical behaviour
 The source of unethical behaviour can be the lecturer
or the student
UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
10
Taking advantage of the
student
Sexual relationships
Victimisation
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE STUDENT
11
 Demand money from students especially male
students
 Demand payment in kind or flesh rather than cash
especially female students
 Influencing students to be frivolous since they can
always finance their way through
SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
12
• Normally involves male staff and younger female
students (can also be lesbian/gay or female lecturer
and male student)
• Power imbalance since lecturer awards grades, sets
exams, grants or denies extensions, lecturer sits on
examination boards
• The student’s freedom of choice is reduced
VICTIMISATION
13
• A result of the student’s lack of cooperation in sexual
•
•
•
•
relationship and payment or other favours
Students normally do not have evidence or proof
The law is likely to side with the lecturer
The student may fail the course
May be very embarrassing to married female
students
EFFECTS ON STUDENT
14
 Student becomes isolated and labeled by both staff
and students
 Student suffers extreme distress
 Student may be harassed - over severe marking
 Student may abandon studies in order to terminate
relationship
EFFECTS ON LECTURER
15
• Student may complain of sexual harassment if
•
•
•
•
•
relationship breaks down
The relationship may be considered a disciplinary
offence
Other students may feel some are getting preferential
treatment
Loss of respect
Tension is created between the whole group of
students and lecturer
Staff conflicts (Should I or shouldn’t I report?)
LECTURER/LECTURER RELATIONSHIP
16
 Shall not knowingly make false or malicious
statements about a colleague
 Shall not disclose info about colleagues obtained in
the course of professional service
 Shall not accept gratuity, gift, or favour that might
impair or influence professional decisions or action
 Be responsible and accountable for your actions
17
 Be fair and honest
 Encourage others to act in an ethical and
professional manner
BENEFITS OF GOOD ETHICS
18
 Cultivation of strong teamwork and productivity
 Promotion of a strong public image
 Strengthening of the university’s culture
 Improves trust in lecturer/student and
lecturer/lecturer relationships
 Enables the achievement of high standards/quality
of work and products
CONCLUSION
19
 Treat every student as your own child
 You are your brother’s keeper
 You should always be humble and honest in your
dealings with yourself and with both students and
colleagues