ABSTRACT

This project work is focused on the implication of professional misconduct on teaching and learning of business studies in Shomolu Local Government District of Lagos State. Until recently professional misconduct has been so rampant in our secondary schools to the extent that teaching and learning of business study activities are seriously distorted. The study was guided by two theories; the Bandura’s Social Learning and the Dreikurs’ Social Discipline Model. The study was undertaken in Shomolu Local Government Area public secondary schools. The research involved 110 respondents; 10 headteachers and 100 members of the teaching staff. Simple random sampling was used in selecting 10 public schools and consequently 10 teachers per school. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. All the information was collected through questionnaires which largely had closed-ended questions with a few open-ended questions. Data collected were analyzed by use of descriptive statistics for quantitative data. Frequency, percentage tables and graphs were used to present the data. The statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data processing and analysis of quantitative data, while content analysis was used in analyzing qualitative data. The study revealed that the common professional misconduct cases among the teaching staff were missing classes, failure to come to school and also failure to seek permission from the school administration, absconding duties and refusal to obey seniors. The study found that the major causes of misconduct among teachers were: pressure to perform well, irregular promotion, poor school infrastructure.  The study also found that all the headteachers had used verbal warning as disciplinary action against teachers. Other approaches used by the headteachers included; written warning and forming of a disciplinary committee. The study recommended that headteachers should minimize pressure on teachers to perform well and should set up remedial classes in agreement with the teaching staff.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1        Background to the Study

The advanced learner dictionary defined a professional to be somebody who is connected with a job that needs special training and skill or one that needs a high level of education. While misconduct means unacceptable behaviors by a professional person or bad management. Professional misconduct now means one that practices his profession beyond its authorized scope.

As well, business studies mean the study of subjects connected with money and managing the business. What now could be the Implication of professional misconduct in teaching and learning of business studies in Junior Secondary School Teaching, like any other profession, has it code ethics or standards for guidance or direction in the appropriate use of professional competence’s, without such standards or ethical beliefs professional competence may be misused or misdirected and the school will not achieve its goals and objectives. The professional ethical standard, therefore, contributes positively to the improvement of the teaching and learning process and this is important that teachers adhere to guiding tenets of the teaching profession. The trend has been so high and fast to the extent that it affects both the student’s and teacher’s performance.

The teachers are the image-makers and the students being taught are the leaders of tomorrow, the high and fast trend of professional misconduct will be transferred to the larger society. The implication of professional misconduct relative to the teaching profession signifies unethical or indecent behavior patterns manifested by any member of the teaching profession. These are established norms and sound patterns of behavior designed to enhance the operational integrity in every formal organization like school. Hence, members owe it a duty to conform to such established patterns in the discharge of their official functions.

According to Peremode (2002) “A professional code of ethics refers to the specific set of ideas, principles, and standard of individual professional conduct as related to the professional duties and responsibilities as approved and enforced by the membership of the professional group”. Peremode goes further to note that in most cases, a professional code of ethics prescribes the appropriate relationship between practitioners (Teachers) and the client of Students) in such a way as to protect the clients. The code also states the appropriate relationship between the practitioners themselves for this mutual protection.

Hoyle [2004) similarly, a code of ethics as related to the professional educator is concerned with the teacher’s relationship with the children, parents, the general public, other teachers, administrators, supervisors, and the educational profession.

Barrup, (2003) seconded this statement that an ideal teacher should have a good relationship with the students but must not be against the ethics of the profession.

Now that the teachers had known their duty and the way to carry it out and make it free of professional misconduct. How can teachers apply this counsel in teaching students the effect of professional misconduct in business study?

According to research, Methodologist states that for decades teachers have failed to emphasize the Implication of professional misconduct and as a result of that most of the fruits of their labor which is their ex-student has not been succeeded in their business facilities: some have ruined their business because of bribes, companies have to fold up because of the unfaithfulness of the management board members. One may say this is just a self-caused problem by individuals but let us illustrate with a child who does not know what fire does but can understand if one explain to him, so such child will not be injured by it if there had been somebody to tell him the consequence of touching the fire. So also it is been with a student that has been taught to be rigid, loyal or sincere and determined when dealing in business with others.

What do business studies mean in employment vicinity? Business studies do not mean just buying and selling, it is most needed in industries, either manufacturing, contracting appointments, civil services even teaching industries. Anything involving spending money is a business profession. The business profession compounds banking, teaching, engineering, construction, accounting, economy, etc together.

Finally, a teacher must acquaint his students and let them know the outcome of being untruthful, accepting of bribes ignorance of duty, fraudulent license, practicing of the profession beyond its authorized scope, quoted the US education Law 6530.

It is known generally that business industries both private and the government have been an assembly of corruption and as a result that the nation’s economy has been affected. For this to be eradicated the teachers, who are professionals in business studies should take note and give serious concern to the subject of business studies and acquaint the learners with the benefit and ruin of obeying business rules.

 

1.2        Statement of the Problem

There seems to be a growing need in all countries of the world today for professionalism to bring about the desired transformation of society for the well-being of man.

However, from the foregoing, several problems have surfaced in the academic performance of junior secondary schools standards owing to professional misconduct, some of that problems are listed below:

1. mass failure in the external examinations
2. Truancy

iii. Disobedience

1. Hooliganism etc.

 

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study is to highlight professional misconduct as its effect, hinder, jeopardy, and the teaching and learning of business studies performance of the junior secondary school students in Lagos State District. The specific objectives are to:

1. To establish the forms of professional misconduct among the Teaching Staff in the teaching and learning of business studies in Shomolu Local Government Area.
2. To determine the causes of professional misconduct among the Teaching Staff in the teaching and learning of business studies in Shomolu Local Government Area.

• To investigate the consequences of teachers’ professional misconduct on teaching and learning of business study in public secondary schools in Shomolu Local Government Area.

1. To find out the administrative practices applied by the headteachers in the teaching and learning of business studies inShomolu Local Government Area that may result in professional misconduct among teachers.
2. To identify the preferred approaches used by headteachers in enhancing discipline among the Teaching Staff in the teaching and learning of business studies in Shomolu Local Government Area.

 

1.4        Research Questions

1. What are the forms of professional misconduct among the Teaching Staff in the teaching and learning of business studies in Shomolu Local Government Area?
2. What are the causes of professional misconduct among the Teaching Staff in the teaching and learning of business studies in Shomolu Local Government Area?

• What are the consequences of teachers’ professional misconduct on teaching and learning of business study in public secondary schools in Shomolu Local Government Area?

1. What administrative practices are the headteachers applying in their day-to-day running of their schools that may result in professional misconduct among teachers?
2. What approaches are headteachers using to enhance discipline among the teaching staff?

 

1.5        Significance of the Study

In a rapid growth rate of professional misconduct, teachers must maintain a set pace to conform to the ethics of the teaching profession and correct the high rate of professional misconduct at all levels of teaching and learning of business studies at the junior secondary school system. This research will be relevant and significant such that, it will provide some useful hints on the effects of professional misconduct on teaching and learning performance. Besides, this work will show how far unethical behavior of teachers has contributed to the teaching and learning performance of business studies in junior secondary school students negatively.

Furthermore, it is intended to draw the attention of the Lagos State Government to see to the extent to which this affects professional misconduct in the Shomolu Local Government District of Lagos State. It will also provide the inspectorate unit of the post-primary teaching service commission (PP‑TESCOM) the limelight to study and monitor unethical behavior before and after recruitment.

Lastly, the researcher very much hopes that the successful completion of this work will be of great importance to Lagos State Ministry of Education to regularly organize seminars workshops, symposia on the ethics of the teaching profession to enhance the good academic performance of the students. Also, among those that will benefit from this research works are Educational administration, parents, teachers, students, government, and the society at Large.