Inadequacies of Relying Only on Teachers’ Deontological Professional Codes of Ethics in Teacher-education: Why Virtue-ethics Might Offer a Complementary Option

This article’s point of departure is the normative position that nurturing the ethical behaviour of teacher trainees requires something beyond masterly of a professional code of ethics. Although a codified professional code of conduct, as a form of deontological ethics, might be helpful in ushering teacher trainees into the teaching profession by explaining expected norms of behaviour, it is associated with certain critical weaknesses. This article argues for the complementarity of virtue ethics, which emphasises the interrelatedness of agents and commitment to the professional code of conduct and other institutionalised social values. Related teacher education management implications are highlighted.