Strengthening Morality and Ethics in Educational Assessment through Ubuntu in South Africa

• Published in: Educational philosophy and theory Vol. 44; no. September 2012; pp. 68 - 83
• Main Author: BEETS, PETER A. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.2012; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Wiley-Blackwell; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Accountability; assessment; Caring; Codes of conduct; Education; Education policy; Educational Assessment; Educational evaluation; Educational philosophy; Educational Policy; Educational Principles; Educational sociology; Ethic of care; Ethics; Evaluation Methods; Foreign Countries; Humanism; Learning; Moral Values; Morality; Philosophy; Principles; Professional ethics; Quality of education; Rating of; South Africa; Student assessment; Student Needs; Students; Teacher competencies; Teacher Effectiveness; Teacher Evaluation; Teachers; Teaching; Ubuntu; Ubuntu (Philosophy); ubuntu and South Africa; South Africa
• ISSN: 0013-1857; 1469-5812; 1469-5812
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2011.00796.x

While assessment is regarded as integral to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, it is also a practice fraught with moral and ethical issues. An analysis is made of current assessment practices of teachers in South Africa which seem to straddle the domains of accountability and professional codes of conduct. In the process the position of the teacher as mediator between policies and diverse learner needs is explored in the light of moral and ethical considerations. Based on the notions of ethical caring and caring about, the article suggests the infusing of principles of ubuntu in assessment practices may provide a framework to embed and strengthen morality and ethics in South African school assessment practices.