Code of ethics for teachers sets guidelines on private lessons, use of social media

Teachers who give private lessons to pupils who are in their class in a way that takes advantage of their professional relationship may be in breach of a revised code of ethics. The new code also spells out that teachers need to keep a “professional distance” from their students and avoid inappropriate communication through social media such as Facebook and Twitter. These are among the new guidelines outlined in the revised Teachers’ Code of Ethics and Practice that was launched this afternoon. Education Minister Dolores Cristina said the code is the work of her ministry together with the Malta Union of Teachers and the Council for the Teaching Profession in Malta. She said that one could not tolerate a situation where teachers made a business out of the students in their own classes, but there could be situations where parents insisted that their children go to private lessons with the same teacher they have at school. There could also be situations where pupils were only comfortable with their class teacher. She said the code formalised what the majority of teachers already put into practice. This was the second revision of the code that was made to keep it up to...