Language, Communication, and Professional Ethics
Domain 6 tests professional communication in Sinhala, Tamil and English and the ethics that govern teacher conduct. The exam values clear, respectful, confidential communication with students, parents and colleagues.
Core rules
- Use the language the listener understands best; in bilingual settings, explain key terms in both languages where needed.
- Listen actively: reflect the concern, ask clarifying questions, avoid defensiveness.
- Keep student information confidential; share only with those who need it.
- Be impartial; do not favour students by family, ethnicity, religion or ability.
- Disagree with colleagues privately and through proper channels.
Worked example
A parent complains that their child was unfairly marked. The teacher invites the parent to a meeting, listens, shows the rubric and the child's work, explains the criterion, and agrees on a support plan. The teacher does not compare the child with another student. Reasoning: showing evidence separates the complaint from the person; confidentiality protects the other child; a support plan turns conflict into learning. Promising to change the mark without evidence would damage integrity.
Traps
- Discussing a student's results in a public corridor.
- Using sarcasm or humiliation as discipline.
- Posting about parents or students on social media.
- Using English jargon with a parent who speaks only Tamil or Sinhala.
- Agreeing to a mark change under pressure.