Code of Professional Ethics

I. Teachers and their responsibilities

Teachers should:

1. Adhere to a responsible pattern of conduct and demeanour expected of them by the community;
2. Manage their private affairs in a manner consistent with the dignity of the profession;
3. Seek to make professional growth continuous through study and research;
4. Express free and frank opinion by participation at professional meetings, seminars and conferences, towards the contribution of knowledge;
5. Maintain active membership of professional organisations and strive to improve education and the profession through them;
6. Perform their duties in the form of teaching, tutorial, practical, seminar and research work conscientiously and with dedication;
7. Co-operate and assist in carrying out functions relating to the educational responsibilities of the institution, such as assisting in appraising applications for admission, advising and counselling students, and assisting in the conduct of examinations including supervision, invigilation and evaluation; and
8. Participate in extension, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities including community service.

II. Teachers and the students

Teachers should:

1. Respect the right and dignity of students in expressing their opinion;
2. Deal justly and impartially with students regardless of their religion, caste, and political, economic, social and physical characteristics;
3. Recognise the difference in aptitude and capability among students and strive to meet their individual needs;
4. Encourage students to improve their attainments, develop their personalities and at the same time contribute to community welfare;
5. Inculcate among students a scientific outlook, respect for physical labour, and the ideals of democracy, patriotism and reason;
6. Be affectionate to students and not behave in a vindictive manner towards any of them for any reason;
7. Pay attention only to the attainment of the student in the assessment of merit;
8. Make themselves available to students even beyond class hours, and help and guide them without any remuneration or reward;
9. Aid students to develop an understanding of our national heritage and national goals; and
10. Refrain from inciting students against other students, colleagues or the administration.

III. Teachers and colleagues

Teachers should:

1. Treat other members of the profession in the same manner as they themselves wish to be treated;
2. Speak respectfully of other teachers and render assistance for professional betterment;
3. Refrain from lodging unsubstantiated allegations against colleagues before higher authorities; and
4. Refrain from allowing considerations of caste, creed, religion, race or sex in their professional endeavour.

IV. Teachers and authorities

Teachers should:

1. Discharge their professional responsibilities according to the existing rules, and adhere to procedures and methods consistent with their profession in initiating steps through their own institutional bodies or professional organisations for the change of any rule detrimental to the professional interest;
2. Refrain from undertaking any other employment or commitment, including private tuition and coaching classes, which is likely to interfere with their professional responsibilities;
3. Co-operate in the formulation of the policies of the institution by accepting various offices, and discharge the responsibilities which such offices may demand;
4. Co-operate through their organisations in the formulation of the policies of other institutions and accept offices;
5. Co-operate with the authorities for the betterment of the institution, keeping in view the interest of and in conformity with the dignity of the profession;
6. Adhere to the conditions of contract;
7. Give and expect due notice before a change of position is made; and
8. Refrain from availing themselves of leave except on unavoidable grounds and, as far as practicable, with prior intimation, keeping in view their particular responsibility for completion of the academic schedule.

V. Teachers and non-teaching staff

1. Teachers should treat the non-teaching staff as colleagues and equal partners in a co-operative undertaking within the educational institution; and
2. Teachers should help in the functioning of joint staff councils covering both teaching and non-teaching staff.

VI. Teachers and guardians

Teachers should try, through the bodies and organisations of teachers, to see that the institution maintains contact with the guardians of its students, sends reports of student performance to the guardians whenever necessary, and meets the guardians in meetings convened for the purpose, for a mutual exchange of ideas and for the benefit of the institution.

VII. Teachers and society

Teachers should:

1. Recognise that education is a public service, and strive to keep the public informed of the educational programmes which are being provided;
2. Work to improve education in the community and strengthen the community’s moral and intellectual life;
3. Be aware of social problems and take part in such activities as would be conducive to the progress of society and hence of the country as a whole;
4. Perform the duties of citizenship, participate in community activities and shoulder the responsibilities of public office; and
5. Refrain from taking part in, subscribing to, or assisting in any way activities which tend to promote feelings of hatred or enmity among different communities, religions or linguistic groups, and instead work actively for national integration.