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CORRUPTION in education is a serious blight that undermines the quality and availability of schools and universities around the world, according to an international report.
Anti-corruption campaigners Transparency International have published a global survey showing that about one in six students have had to pay a bribe for education services.
In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, which Zimbabwe falls under, this might be requiring parents to pay a fee for a school place that should be free.
Despite the Government’s efforts to crack down on corruption in State agencies, the practice of parents paying bribes to secure school places for their children is said to be “rampant’’.Reports from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education say a majority of boarding schools countrywide are overwhelmed by online applications from pupils seeking Form One places next year.
The floodgate for a scramble for places followed the release of Grade Seven results by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) early this week.
There is no doubt some parents might want to use their personal connections or their wealth to get their children enrolled at select schools.
Meanwhile, the drive to combat corruption in schools begins when pupils seeking Form One boarding places are allowed to apply online using the Electronic Ministry’s Application Platform (EMAP) launched by Government last year.
Speaking at the National Association of School Inspectors and Directors (Nasid) meeting on Wednesday Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Tumisang Thabela called for zero tolerance to corruption in terms of places allocation.
“As district teams you are part of recruitment so let’s avoid rent-seeking behaviour in that area,” she said.
In 2016, a school headmaster at Chikwerengwe High School in Gutu, Ishmael Maundu hogged the limelight while being accused of demanding bribes from parents for Form One places at the school, raising tension in the local community.
He was accused of allegedly demanding bribes ranging from $10 to $20 so that pupils can obtain Form One places at the school, much to the disgruntlement of local parents who later wrote a petition to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to alert them on the development.
The case reignited public concern, with demands made for the Government to step up efforts to eradicate the practice of parents paying school headmasters to get their children into prestigious schools that can set them on the pathway to success and riches later in life.
There have been calls to the Government to force school headmasters nationwide to declare their assets publicly (asset declarations) in order to prevent parents from bribing them to get children admitted into prestigious schools.
Asset declarations, no doubt would stop school directors from operating such a system.
Recently, the Government issued a stern warning to schools after it emerged that some were demanding tuition fees in United States dollars.
derick.khumalo