Code of conduct to fight corruption in schools soon

Accra, Dec. 12 GNA - A code of conduct to fight and unearth corrupt practices at all educational institutions and systems would soon be launched by the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) and the International Campaign for Corruption-Free Schools (ICCS).

The proposal, which is currently being studied by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES), is intended to ensure that educational institutions become "Corruption-free schools".

Mr Baffour Dokyi Amoa, Director, International Campaign for Corruption-free Schools, announced this at a press conference in Accra as part of activities to mark this year's International Anti-Corruption Week.

The programme that is presently being run at 12 second-cycle institutions in the Greater Accra Region is to encourage school children to understand the nature of corruption and its negative effects on society. By so doing, the youth would grow up and shun the evil practice, which could easily be changed in the attitudes and behaviours of the children than in the adult. Mr Amoa called on parents and other stakeholders in education to join the fight against corruption in all levels of educational institutions and systems.

He cited a study conducted in November 2000 in selected schools in some West African countries, which revealed that some form of corruption involved parents, students, teachers, school heads, government officials, old boys and girls and opinion leaders. Mr Amoa said since 2003, pilot programmes had been initiated in Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to determine to what extent schools and other stakeholders would be interested in playing to combat corruption in schools.

He said during discussions with various stakeholders in education it became clear that parents and guardians were able to influence school authorities in their favour.

Mr Amoa said FECCIWA and the corruption-free campaigners had also initiated a number of activities in selected schools including lectures, debates, essay writing, poetry, poster-making and music to draw the attention of the youth to the harmful effects of corruption on the society.