Can role modelling by school leadership reduce the incidence of unprofessional behaviour by teachers?

Education is crucial to shaping attitudes, values, and moral conduct essential for compassionate and responsible societies. The professionalism of teachers must be emphasised in attaining equitable human flourishing, avoiding a focus solely on personal happiness and attaining sustainable and regenerative futures. Thus, our study explores the factors contributing to teachers engaging in unprofessional behaviour. Also, we examine the role of leadership in shaping teachers’ professional conduct, and its implications for equitable student flourishing beyond the 21st century. Strategies that can be implemented to address teachers’ unprofessional behaviour effectively are identified. An exploratory research design was adopted to understand the phenomenon in a sample of two Nigerian schools. To choose study participants, purposive and snowball sampling approaches were applied. Data obtained through interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed using the atlas.ti software package. Results indicate that absenteeism, battery, yelling, discrimination, breaking school rules, and improper or immoral dressing, among others, are unprofessional behaviours among teachers. We recommend that the school leader must be a role model, adequately monitor staff, offer financial and moral support, and provide training and emotional platforms, for effectiveness.