ETHICAL REASONING AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE AND LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA

Fredrick Opoh; Victor Essien

Authors

Fredrick Awhen Opoh Department of Social Studies and Civic Education, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, University of Calabar Author
Essien, Victor Edem Department of Social Studies and Civic Education, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education, University of Calabar Author

Keywords:

ethics in education, decision-making, Nigeria, educational leadership, professional conduct, Ethical reasoning

Abstract

The article analysed ethical thinking and professionalism in education and school leadership in Nigeria and highlighted their importance in the effective management of schools and nation building. Educational reform is perceived as a moral task which relies heavily upon the moral climate of teachers, administrators and policy makers. This study examines the ethical principles that support decision-making in education: utilitarian, deontological, virtue, and care ethics, and their influence on the behaviour of educational leaders and institutional practice in Nigerian educational context. There is a special focus on ethical reasoning and decision making in matters related to resource allocation, staff management, student discipline and institutional governance. It emphasizes the need for ethical considerations in decision-making and how prevalent and relevant they are in the digital era when emerging topics like data privacy, AI ethics, and cyber misconduct are becoming a concern. It concludes that the way to improve the quality of education and ensure sustainable national development in Nigeria is to strengthen the ethical reasoning and professional conduct of educators by imparting ethics education, making educational governance transparent, appointing educators on the basis of merit, effective supervision and providing adequate funding.

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