Conceptualising the Professional Nature of the Teaching Enterprise: A Critical Review

Abstract

In this article, an effort is made to present a framework that can define and offer a better understanding of the nature of a professional undertaking.  Essentially, the framework attempts a demarcation between a professional and non-professional enterprise.  To this effect, four major arguments inform the article.  First, there is little doubt that there are some people in professional undertakings today that can hardly tell what it simply means to be a member in profession.  Such ignorance is surely behind the current widespread professional misdemeanours in different professional communities.  Secondly, not every business undertaken by a man or woman in the world today is worth the concept and status of profession.  Thirdly, the concerns with public goods or simply basic human needs such as health, justice, spiritual salvation, and education can better help to define a professional undertaking.  Fourthly, in sum, there is no profession in the absence of an ethical dimension.  In conclusion, there is little doubt that a better conceptual grasp of the professional requirement is a prerequisite and foundation for good professional practice.