The term teaching has been defined in different terms. Generally, a teacher is a professional with three levels of knowledge, namely, what to teach, how to teach and who to teach. The knowledge of what to teach refers to the knowledge of subject matter whoever intends to teach must acquire the knowledge of his subject
The knowledge of how to teach refers to method, techniques and strategies of teaching a subject. The knowledge of who to teach refers to the knowledge of the learners. A teacher will know how to teach by their levels, maturity and Knowledge obtain.
The term profession is generally defined as an occupation based on specialised intellectual study and training while professionalism refers to a state or being dedicated and having a specialised knowledge through long period of advanced education and having professional membership.
Teaching has most of the essential characteristics of a profession. These are professional competence, specialised knowledge, occupational knowledge and skills, experience through long advanced education, continuous in same growth through seminars and conference.
Following persistent demand by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), teaching in Nigeria is now legally recognised as a profession while N.C.E is now the minimum qualification to enter into the teaching profession in Nigeria. In addition, for a person in Niger to be a professional and registered teacher, he or she must be a member of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Every profession has its ethics which guide its member. Teaching as a profession, therefore, has its own ethical code which we call ethics of teaching profession. The ethical code for teachers in Nigeria include: commitment to students: this means they are enjoined to regard students equal in terms of treatment. Any attempt to discriminate students on the basis of tribe, religion, sex constitutes unprofessional practice and are against the ethics of teaching profession; commitment to parents: a teacher is required to promote a good relationship with parents; commitment to employer; a teacher is expected to conduct professional duties which he or she is employ to do.
Khadijat Omowumi Mustapha,
Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri