The SACE Code Of Conduct

The SACE code of conduct does support these views. According to the SACE act 31 of 2000 stipulates the following Code of Professional Ethics for educators: An educator:

• respects the dignity, beliefs and constitutional rights of learners and, in particular, children, which includes the right to privacy and confidentiality;

• acknowledges the uniqueness, individuality, and specific needs of each learner, guiding and encouraging each to realise his or her potentialities;

• strives to enable learners to develop a set of values consistent with the fundamental rights contained in the Constitution of South Africa;

• avoids any form of humiliation, and refrains from any form of abuse, physical or psychological;

• refrains from improper physical contact with learners;

• refrains from any form of sexual harassment (physical or otherwise) of learners; • refrains from any form of sexual relationship with learners at school;

• uses appropriate language and behaviour in his or her interaction with learners, and acts in such a way as to elicit respect from learners; 29

• is not negligent or indolent in the performance of his or her professional duties; and

• recognises, where appropriate, learners as partners in education.

Any educator who breaches any of these codes of conduct is conducting him/herself unprofessionally can be held liable for a high offence if these conducts have not been met and could lose their licence indefinitely. The codes of ethics are summarised as the