Exploring Moral Values among Teacher Trainees in Teaching Profession: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Purpose: Teaching involves an moral dimension that tends to remain unspoken and thus difficult to reflect on and discuss. From the perspective of professionalism, moral values are important to the quality and status of the teaching profession. The current study examines the moral values of teacher trainees towards teaching profession. Methodology: This research was conducted under a qualitative research approach with phenomenological design. the cohort comprised 600 subjects of twenty D. Ed., colleges from four Rayalaseema Districts of Andhra Pradesh were chosen through non - random convenience sampling. The instrument was self - developed keeping in view the objectives and hypothesis of the study on a four - point Likert scale, strongly agreed to strongly disagreed. The questionnaire was divided into two parts. Part - A was to illicit demographic details such as gender, location and community etc., and Part - B consists of 34 statements. Findings: The results of the study revealed that half of the sample demonstrated moderate levels of morals values towards teaching profession, while another quarter percentage confessed high as well as low levels of moral values. Similarly, no significant difference was found in the perception of moral values among teacher trainees with regard to gender, locality and community. Interestingly, a significant difference was found in the perception of moral values among teacher trainees with regard to their qualifications. Conclusion: The study investigates the moral values of teacher trainees towards the teaching profession, focusing on trainees from the Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh, India. Using a phenomenological approach, the research includes 600 trainees from twenty D. Ed colleges surveyed using a Likert - scale based questionnaire. Findings indicate a spectrum of moral values, with variations across gender, locality and educational qualifications. The study underscores the importance of continuous professional development to instill moral values in future educators.