A comparison of ethical codes of primary school administrators in European Union countries and Turkey

This study was conducted to compare and contrast the ethical codes of school administrators in EU countries and Turkey and to make a model proposal for school administrators. As it was thought that it is suited the study subject, study was done with qualitative research method and administrators of primary schools in Şahinbey and Şehitkamil districts of Gaziantep were chosen as an study group. Ethical codes of school administrators in EU countries are found via document analysis and official web sites of countries which were found as a result of the internet research. At the end of the research objectivity, general principals, social activities, private relations, gift and favors, additional jobs, public interests, political activities, conflict of interests are found as common points of both Turkey and EU countries. In addition, as a result of the interviews which were done to answer the sub-problems, it was found that Turkish Ministry of Education has to give more information to the administrators about ethical codes via professional seminars. Moreover, forming special professional ethical codes for school administrators because of the nature of the school was found as another result. This research can help to create special codes for school administrators.Key Words: Ethics, Administrative Ethics, School Administration Ethics, Ethical Leadership.