Login

Code of Conduct Policy

The educational system in the United Arab Emirates is distinguished with a high and advanced standing and is supported by the enlightened leadership of the UAE that harnesses the financial and human  capabilities to maintain and support its continual improvement. This aligns with the nations objectives in  implementing the UAE’s ambitious vision and to achieve comprehensive development, based on a range  of sound scientific foundations and moral values derived from a diversity of religions, customs and  traditions of our ancestors and human values. This vision values the role of education and recognizes the  importance of education professionals in general education through their influence and responsibilities that  affect future generations. 

Thus, this code of conduct confirms the educational professional’s moral, educational, and professional  responsibility under a set of standards and principles that describe the anticipated professional and ethical  behavior and regulates the nature of educator roles in the school. This is inclusive of face-to-face learning,  and distant learning in regular or virtual schools within the framework of their professional, educational,  and moral responsibilities. Under this code of conduct, there is a clarification of the basic values that an  educator must commit to, in addition to their professional, behavioral, and moral obligations towards  students, parents, colleagues, the profession and society as a whole. 

It is hoped that this code of conduct contributes to building an institutional culture based on ethical norms,  rules, and appropriate workplace an societal conduct. Additionally, it is trusted that the code will contribute to enhancing an educator’s professional and educational responsibilities and their pioneering role in  building the future of our students to reach globally advanced levels, in the hope of implementing the vision  of the enlightened leadership in the UAE. 

Overall Objectives of the Charter: 

The aim is to enhance and advance the educational profession and to implement the vision and mission of  the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Emirates Schools Establishment and educational  entities, as follows: 

  • Establish clear and public ethical standards, rules, and principles of conduct for the educational  process. 
  • Contribute to setting the ethical behavior towards their profession, students, and society in line with  the dynamic changes in their educational roles. 
  • Instill the ethics of the profession as basic principles that are adhered to, within the educational  institution and beyond, establishing the educator as a role model for students wherever they are. 

Terminologies: 

Within the framework of this code of conduct, the following words shall have the meanings shown against  each of them, unless the context of the text requires otherwise:

Country: United Arab Emirates 

Ministry: Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates. 

Minister: Minister of Education 

Educational Entities: Local government entities concerned with the affairs of private education, each  within the limits of its competence. 

Emirates Schools Establishment: It is the establishment concerned with the federal government education  sector, established by Federal Decree-Law No. (15) of 2016 

The Educational Institution: Every governmental or private educational institution within the country  practices education from the stage of kindergartens education to the stage of secondary education, including  kindergarten’s education, government and private schools, technical schools, educational institutes,  continuing education centers and private training centers. 

Professional and ethical code of conduct for educational professions in general education institutions: A set of approved foundations and rules that govern the behaviors of workers in the education sector and  that must be adhered to and observed, and that are consistent with values, social justice, responsibility, laws  and legislation. 

Student: Each learner enrolled in any educational institution, including people with special needs or  determination. 

Code of Conduct: These are the approved standards of behavior for government human resources. 

Social media: Any electronic communication network, whether via the Internet or through other  communication networks – that allows the user to create personal accounts, add and publish content, and  share it with the public within the boundaries of the network, in many forms, such as written conversations,  images and video, and participate in discussions and interactive activities with users of the network itself,  empowering individuals and transforming them from mere users to producers. 

Conflict of interest: Any official action, situation, or decision of the employee that leads to a conflict of  interest between his private activities and the interests of the government and leads to the employee putting  his own interest ahead of the public interest. 

Scope of application: 

This code of conduct applies to all employees of general education institutions. 

Overall Objectives of the Charter: 

All educational professionals in general education institutions are committed to the following values during  the performance of their educational duties, through their personal actions and their relationships with  students, parents, colleagues and society as a whole: 

  1. Honesty and Sincerity: a moral obligation represented by adherence to principles and values such  as: transparency, honesty, trust, dignity and objectivity in the practice of the profession.
  2. Trust and Integrity: trust in work in and out the classroom, and in carrying out administrative and  educational duties. This is reflected in the transfer of experiences and knowledge in a clear,  complete manner, and without deficiency, disclosure of any conflict of interest, and rejection of all  forms of functional and academic corruption. 
  3. Equity and Equality: is equality and non-discrimination in all relations with students, parents,  colleagues, and the education community, and taking various decisions and actions in a balanced  manner. 
  4. Compassion and Tolerance: is showing compassion and leniency in dealing, understanding the  thoughts and feelings of students and all concerned, from their point of view, communicating and  dealing with them appropriately, giving reactions, and implementing procedures in a manner  commensurate with a good knowledge of the circumstances and the ongoing experiences they are  going through. 
  5. Respect: is the basis for the formation of active and positive relationships, and attention to the  extent of the impact of words and actions on others, taking into account their feelings, rights, desires  and traditions, and showing appreciation in all actions, whether with respect and appreciation for  the profession, or by respecting the laws and policies of the UAE. 

First: Ethical responsibilities in interactions: 

  1. Interaction with Students:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

▪ Ensure the safety, well-being, growth and  development of the abilities of all students,  including students of determination or special  educational needs by taking the necessary  procedures and arrangements within the limits  of their authority to protect the safety of  students . 

▪ Apply equal opportunities and equal treatment  of all students regardless of differences in the  levels of education, economic, cultural,  linguistic and religious affiliation, without 

discrimination between them. 

▪ Maintain a safe environment for students, and  allow them to express their opinions and share  their learning with their colleagues in a way  that meets their unique and differing needs,  taking into account the individual differences  between them. 

▪ Motivate students to protect and highlight the  capabilities of the country and to contribute to  its development and prosperity, and encourage them towards participation in national  activities and events.

▪ Forming any inappropriate  

relationship, or sending any messages,  

photos or emails to students inside or  

outside the classroom. 

▪ Disclosure of confidential information  belonging to a student. 

▪ Sharing news, rumors, false  

statements, or unreliable news with  

students. 

▪ Use of verbal or physical violence with  students.



▪ Positively influence students and promote positive values in them. 

▪ Refrain from any inappropriate physical  contact. 

▪ Encourage positive values in students to  protect them from ideas that are inappropriate to our religion, including atypical ideas, and to  protect students from extremist ideas and racial  discrimination by promoting the principles of  tolerance and acceptance of others.

 



  1. Interaction with Parents and the Local Community:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

▪ Demonstrate high ethical and positive behavior  when dealing with parents and the community. ▪ Respect and build trust with all parents from  different cultures, religions, educational and  economic levels, respect their vital role, and  provide them with the necessary support by  involving them in the educational process of  their children. 

▪ Communicate an accurate and honest  evaluation of the students’ development to their  parents. 

▪ Involve the parents in making decisions related  to the students on a regular basis. 

▪ Adhere to the moral values and norms that  prevail in UAE society, respect the values of  citizenship, promote the values of the Emirati  community in the hearts of students, and guide  them towards a sense of responsibility towards  the issues of their community.

▪ Any activity that offends parents or  community members through words or  

actions. 

▪ Any inappropriate behavior that makes  the parent or community members feel  

uncomfortable or insecure. 

▪ Disclosure of confidential information  belonging to a parent. 

▪ Sharing of rumors, false statements  

with parents and the community



  1. Interaction with Administration and Colleagues:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

▪ Demonstrate high ethical and positive behavior  when dealing with all school staff, including  management, colleagues, and teachers. 

▪ Maintain good and professional relations with  all partners in the educational process, and respect their roles and responsibilities. 

▪ Collaborate with colleagues and share  experiences with them, and transfer knowledge  to them in a professional manner approved by 

▪ Actions that harm the reputation of the  educational institution and its  

employees. 

▪ Activities that offend colleagues and  administration members through words  

or actions. 

▪ Any inappropriate behavior that can  affect colleagues and administration  

members by feeling uncomfortable or  

insecure.



the school administration to enhance  improvement. 

▪ Respect the cultural diversity of all school staff  from heritage, language, identity, nationality, and religion. 

▪ Participate actively in the school’s efforts to  protect students from extremist ideas and  discrimination, by promoting the principles of  tolerance and acceptance of others. 

▪ Report certain behaviors occurring at school  from anyone including students. 

▪ Respect and abide by the principles of privacy  and confidentiality in relation to public and  personal information. 

▪ Not to share or change information, except in  the course of exercising their job duties, or as  permitted by law, or with prior written  authorization, or if the purpose of disclosing it 

is to detect a crime that endangers or harms the  interest of the entity, by reporting it to the  competent official authority, whether such  information relates to his employer or another  entity.

▪ Disclosure of confidential information  concerning a colleague or  

administration. 

▪ Sharing of rumors and false statements  with colleagues and administration.



Second: Behavioral and Professional Obligations:  

  1. General obligations: Working in the educational field is a profession that should be cherished by  everyone employed within the limits of its scope and institutions, as role models for next generation  educational leaders. Educators with high standards of morals and ethics who collaborate with other  leaders and educational professionals, can enhance, and improve the overall educational structure  as it progresses forward. This can then lead to achieving the highest standards of quality and  outcomes stated by the UAE. This will equip and encourage learners to progress to higher levels of  education and employment. 

These obligations include: 

▪ Commitment to applying the legislation of the UAE and to ensure the rights of children  stipulated in the conventions signed by the country. 

▪ Commitment to protect children of all cultural backgrounds, from all types of abuse,  neglect, exploitation and bullying in accordance with the legislation and laws in force in  the UAE, and to raise awareness of their rights, and the need to report any kinds of abuse  whether it is actual or even suspected. 

▪ Take the necessary measures and arrangements to enhance the well-being of children and  students, protect them from abuse and neglect, maintain their safety, and immediately  report to the relevant authority (Child Protection Unit, whether in the Ministry or the 

concerned units in the educational entities) if there is a threat to the safety of the child, the  student, or their physical, psychological, moral or mental health, in accordance with the  official procedures, and follow the guidelines that will protect children and students based  on what is stipulated in the Law on the Rights of the Child (Wadima) and its executive  regulations. 

▪ Commitment towards positive and exemplary behavior for all employees and students in  the educational institution, and to treat everyone with high professionalism and respect at  all times and occasions without exception or discrimination. 

  1. Professional Behaviors:

This section describes the professional behaviors expected of the educational profession in general  education institutions that are in line with the prevailing legislation and laws contained in the  document of professional conduct and ethics of the public service, issued by the Federal Authority  for Government Human Resources, which includes the following:  

  1. Performing Job Duties:

▪ Honesty in performing job duties stipulated in the job description and procedural manuals for  teaching, learning and evaluation. 

▪ Commitment to his/her attendance, discipline, and ensuring that students receive adequate  educational tuition in accordance with the prescribed curriculum. 

  1. General Appearance and Behavior

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

1. Commitment to clean, decent and modest  clothing that reflects the traditions of the  UAE and that shows a respectful image of  workers in the educational sector, including: 

▪ Commitment to formal clothing and  

shoes. 

▪ Adherence to appropriate, non 

revealing clothing covering the  

knees. 

▪ Avoiding unusual hair dyes and  

excessive piercings. 

2. Commitment to work ethics and fulfillment  of duties to the best of their abilities. 

3. Honesty in providing educational  qualifications and previous experiences  required to perform the job, and commitment  to continuous development.

1. Wearing tight or inappropriate clothing  for the working environment as described  in the policy of uniform rules. 

2. The use of verbal or physical violence  with students or any unjustified physical  contact that does not fall within the  

functional requirements of the teacher. 

3. Discussions of any actions that contradict  the prevailing customs and traditions in  the country. 

4. Preventing anything that may hinder the  identification of the employee including  face covering by the administrative staff  during working hours (excluding medical  

masks or health reasons).



  1. Use of School Resources and Conflicts of Interest:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

1. Disclosing any conflict of interests in terms of  relatives, including extended relatives (up to  fourth degree) and related students in the  school, and not participating in any action or  decision that may directly or indirectly affect  these students. 

2. Disclosure of the presence of employees with  whom they are related to, have a marital  relationship, or affinity (up to the second  degree) in the same workplace or within the  same direct supervisory relationship. 

3. Respect and supervise public funds and  property entrusted to them and ensure that  fraud or misconduct is reported through  approved official channels. 

4. Preservation and use of property, facilities,  teaching aids and devices for authorized  purposes.

1. Accepting gifts from students and their  families on or off the school campus, and  providing favoritism, nepotism, and unfair  preference. 

2. Undertake any financial participation that  could jeopardize the school’s goals or  

activities, directly or indirectly. 

3. Use public or work-related resources for  personal purposes or for personal gain. 

4. Spend financial resources in an excessive  or wasteful manner. 

5. Offering private lessons unless the  

appropriate authorizations have been  

implemented.



  1. Professional Reservation, Confidentiality, Publication and Means of Communication:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

1. Using approved social media and computer  systems in the educational institution in a way  that does not adversely affect the school, or is  a violation of the policy and procedures of the  Ministry and educational entities, and working in accordance with the national guidelines and  the approved use policy, in order to make the  best use of the many educational and social  benefits of technology, and protecting students  from its risks. 

2. Directing media inquiries to the competent and  accredited authorities in the Ministry and  educational entities, and communicating with  the media team in the educational institution to  ensure the accuracy of the information  provided to the media. 

3. Commitment to the ethics of digital citizenship  and the rules of professional conduct in all 

1. Publishing any photo of the educational  institution, current and former faculty  

members, students, and parents without  the prior consent of all relevant parties,  

and not collaborating with educational  

institutions in other countries except with  the official approval of the Ministry or  

educational entities. 

2. Spreading rumors or negative news or  making inappropriate comments through  any form of social communication  

including electronic communication. 

3. Making public comments, especially  outside the official working hours, aimed  at detracting from the reputation of  

colleagues or the authority of the Ministry  of Education, or education in general. 

4. Sharing confidential or sensitive  

information with any party, inside or 



means of digital communication and distance  learning. 

4. Confirm that the use of school communication  devices (computers, phones, etc.) does not  include anything that may be controversial or  offensive. 

5. Ensuring that professional information is  protected against loss, misuse, unauthorized  access, modification, or disclosure, and  keeping confidential any information relating  to students and colleagues, unless it is  permitted to be disclosed to serve a clear  professional purpose. 

6. Maintaining the confidentiality of exam  questions and preventing cheating attempts to  promote the principle of integrity, honesty and  responsibility among students. 

7. Being aware of all the laws in force in the  UAE, and the policies followed by the  Ministry, educational entities and the Emirates  Schools Establishment related to social  communication, including the cybersecurity  policy, the policy on data protection, and  compliance in order to protect the intellectual property of the school and copyright.

outside the school, or anyone who is not  authorized to obtain the information. 

5. Disclosure of curricula and examination  content.



  1. Customs, Traditions and Sensitive Topics:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

1. Respecting the customs and traditions of the  UAE in schools or the workplace. 

2. Complying with all rules and laws applied in  the country. 

3. Keeping discussions focused on the area of the  material and topics being taught only. 

4. Considering Emirati traditions and customs  when discussing sensitive topics such as  politics, history and genetics if they are within  the scope of the lesson or activity.

1. Disrespecting the Emirati culture and  customs in the classroom or workplace. 

2. Engaging in conversation with students  about sensitive topics that do not serve a  clear educational purpose associated with  the agreed curriculum. 

3. Discussing religious topics that provoke  division, that constitute sectarian or  

religious differences and that are outside  the approved curriculum of Islamic  

Studies in the country. 

4. Addressing topics related to the internal  or external policies of the country, or the  dissemination of news, rumors and false  statements, and talking about any current  events or events related to the directives  and policies of other countries that would  provoke strife, disturb public security or  harm the public interest.



  1. Smoking, Using Alcohol and Drugs:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

1. Complying with the UAE laws issued in this  regard.

1. Any indecent behavior such as coming to  work under the influence of alcohol or  

drugs. 

2. Smoking in school campus or yards. 3. Sharing any of the prohibited materials  with colleagues or students.



  1. Homosexuality and Abnormal Sexual Attitude:

Acceptable behaviors : 

Prohibited behaviors :

1. Ensuring that unacceptable behavioral  manifestations do not spread within UAE  society and abstaining from addressing socially rejected topics such as: abnormal  sexual morals and ethics, homosexuality, and  alternate gender identity.

1. Engaging in conversation with students  about sensitive topics such as human  

reproduction, homosexuality, that does  not serve a clear educational purpose  

associated with the agreed curriculum.



General Instructions and Principals: 

  1. All educational professionals in the general education institutions are bound by the legislation in  force in the UAE, the decisions and policies adopted by the Ministry, the educational authorities,  and the Emirates Schools Education Establishment – each within the limits of their competence,  and by reviewing this code of conduct, familiarizing themselves with its contents, and complying  with the provisions contained therein. Failure to abide by these codes, could result in penalties  against the education professional applied through the educational entities in each workplace  without prejudice to any other penalties imposed by other laws, decisions or regulations. 
  2. The rules outlined in this code of conduct are binding rules that all educational professionals in the  general education institutions must abide by, and not deviate from the provisions contained therein. 3. The Professional Licensing Department in the Ministry of Education – in the event that the  educational professional in general education institutions do not comply with this code of conduct – necessary measures will be taken regarding the professional license in terms of suspending or  withdrawing or revoking the license issued without compensation.