A Systematic Review of Teachers’ Work Ethics

The present systematic review aims to explore the extent to which teachers’ work ethics (TWE) have been empirically investigated by researchers globally. The analysis of 24 qualitative and quantitative studies was conducted that met the inclusion-exclusion norms and were published between 2013 and 2023 across 10 countries. The analysis revealed diverse factors determining TWE, which reviewers initially categorized into ‘Core TWE Indicators’ (C-TWEI) and ‘Specific TWE Indicators’ (S-TWEI). The authors explained C-TWEI as a set of commonly perceived work ethics by teachers at their workplace, while S-TWEI is a set of discrete work ethics that teachers exhibit while performing their job roles. Further, the scarcity of research in S-TWEI, for instance, technology, and a lack of a comprehensive globally recognized instrument for TWE measurement suggest the need for its in-depth exploration. These findings suggest theoretical and practical implications for advancing the research field of TWE across cultures and contexts, which would intensify the understanding of TWE for elevating the quality of education and the teaching profession altogether.