Unfortunately, like many other sectors, the ‘education sector’ is also prone to corruption. More often there are allegations from various strata of the society about the dare state of the education system. According to a news report on Tuesday, mismanagement, corruption and plundering of funds have already engulfed different schools, colleges and madrasas across the country. In many cases, chairmen and members of the managing committees are involved in these misdeeds.
Actually, the school management committees and the governing body formed by the Education Board and the National University have given absolute power to the managing committees. Besides, they have also been given impunity. Even in case of punishment, at best the committee can be dissolved. As a result, these corrupt people have been desperately looting money from the educational institutions in various pretexts.
In this context, the Anti-Corruption Commission had to send notices upon 15 schools and colleges in the capital as part of its investigation into alleged anomalies and corruption in students’ admission.
The report said that President of Bangladesh College Teachers’ Association Principal Asadul Haque said that the main problem lies with the rules of formation of the managing committees as they have been given an unqualified authority. This power should have to be curved side-by-side making the committees responsible for any crime. Since education is not a political matter, there should not be any provision for keeping political persons in the committees.
It is also to be noted that a section of primary school teachers and field-level officials have long been involved in the practice of showing higher number of students enrolled and registered for primary education completion examination than the actual only to misappropriate government incentive money.
The corruption at school, college and madrasa levels is the mere reflection of what is happening in Bangladesh at large. Since education is a basic human right as well as a catalyst for social change, it is seen as the key to a better future, providing the essential tools that people need to sustain their livelihoods, live with dignity and contribute to society.
We believe a corruption free education system will instill hope in our children and encourage them a spirit of common and shared responsibility for our country and for humanity.
