School Administration and Professional Ethics
Core concepts
Know school governance in Nepal, including the roles of the head teacher, school management committee, parent-teacher association, local government and education office. Understand school records (attendance, admission, progress, stock, cash book, minutes), annual planning and school improvement planning, supervision and monitoring, and resource and budget management. Know professional ethics: integrity, fairness, confidentiality, duty of care, non-discrimination, avoiding conflict of interest, and respectful communication with learners, families and colleagues. Understand teacher codes of conduct and the difference between administration and supervision.
Traps
A frequent trap is confusing supervision (guidance and support for improvement) with inspection (judging compliance). Another is treating administrative records as paperwork rather than accountability tools. Questions may test confidentiality: learner information should not be shared casually, including on social media. Do not accept gifts that could influence decisions, and do not use corporal punishment, which is prohibited. Another trap is confusing the roles of the school management committee and the parent-teacher association.
Worked example
A question asks what a head teacher should do when a teacher repeatedly arrives late. Rule of thumb: follow a fair, documented process, starting with a private, supportive conversation, then supervision and a written improvement plan, escalating only if needed. This reflects procedural fairness and duty of care.
Application
Keep accurate records, communicate transparently with families, model ethical conduct, and use supervision to develop staff rather than to blame them.