Professional Ethics and Teaching for Change in the 21st-Century African Schools: The Roles of Teachers’ Professional Development and Curriculum Evaluation

Abstract

Teaching is an ancient, but respected and ethical profession that has metamorphosed over time, as it struggles to compete with other professions, due to economic and technological changes and advancements. If the objectives and the expected standard of the profession are to be attained, especially in this 21^st century, concerted efforts need to focus on enhancing and sustaining teachers' professional ethics, which have been given diverse definitions in the literature. This paper is a review of and a reflection on (i) What defines Teachers’ professional ethics in Africa? (ii) What changes have the 21st century brought into the teaching profession in Africa? (iii) What is the role of professional development programmes on teachers’ professional ethics and teaching in Africa? (iv) What is the role of curriculum evaluation on teachers’ professional ethics and teaching in Africa? Underpinned by the Moral Development Theory, the study utilised a qualitative systematic literature review methodology. Findings indicate that African law systems, cultural norms, and educational settings define teachers' professional ethics in Africa; the 21st century has brought a drastic change to the teaching profession in Africa as it has led to various teaching innovations, new pedagogical demands, changes in the education structure, and technological improvements; professional development programmes enhance teachers' ethical awareness, reasoning, and decision-making; curriculum evaluation impacts teacher development, accountability, instructional methods, professional ethics, and students’ learning outcomes. The paper concludes that for African schools to be up to date with the demands of the 21^st century, ethics of the teaching profession and teaching should be pursued and positively transformed through teachers’ professional development and curriculum evaluation. Suggestions for teacher education and curriculum development are highlighted.