Malaysian teachers’ code of conduct : a critical analysis from Sahihayn’s perspective

Abstract

Teachers’ misconduct defies the pivotal role of teaching profession in educating students. Despite the useful codes of ethics (Malaysian Teachers’ Code of Conduct and Ministry of Education’s Work Ethics) implemented by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, there are a number of ethical or disciplinary problems involving individual teachers reported frequently in the media. This research is thus conducted to find any compatibility or incompatibility between Malaysian Teachers’ Code of Conduct, Ministry of Education’s Work Ethics, and the Prophetic teaching ethics in selected aḥādīth of Ṣaḥīḥayn (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim). The contents of Malaysian Teachers’ Code of Conduct and Ministry of Education’s Work Ethics are evaluated to find the noble ethics in them. Then, the ethics are compared to the selected aḥādīth of Ṣaḥīḥayn containing the Prophetic teaching ethics. Selected Qurʼānic verses and the major tafsīr works are used to support the discussion. The researcher has found that most of the ethics, emphasized in both of the Malaysian teachers’ codes of ethics aforementioned, are compatible with the Prophetic teaching ethics portrayed in the selected aḥādīth in Ṣaḥīḥayn. Both sources of ethics are compatible in terms of teachers’ duties towards students, parents, societies, colleagues and the teaching profession. The Malaysian teachers’ codes of ethics also resonate with the Prophetic teaching ethics pertaining to having the right intention, behaving in a good manner, encouraging goodness, being disciplined and cultured, and being concerned and responsible towards the efforts of the organisation they serve. The incompatibilities are, in terms of responsibilities towards God (Allah ), comprehensiveness of Prophetic teaching ethics, lack of elements of “warning against evil”, straightforwardness and moderation, humility, courage to speak the truth, and the attribute of ḥayā’ (pious shyness from committing religious indiscretions) in Malaysian Teachers’ Code of Conduct and Ministry of Education’s Work Ethics. The research provides an added value to teaching practice in Malaysia.