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Education and governance

Preventing corruption in the education system: a practical guide

Guide to preventing corruption in the education sector

Authors: K.L Ochse
Publisher: U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, 2004

Full text of document

This practical guide on preventing corruption in the education system is produced by GTZ and aimed at those responsible for development cooperation projects promoting reform in the education sector.

The guide aims to provide ideas and practical support, and to indicate ways of integrating corruption-prevention components appropriately. Based on the priorities of German development cooperation in the Education system, the guide is built around the identification of manifestations and possible weak points in terms of corruption related to: personnel; the finance and procurement system in educational institutions; access to educational institutions; and quality and quantity of education. The guide also identifies approaches and measures to promote the participation of parents/teachers/citizens and civil society organisations in reforms of the education system.

Measures to prevent corruption in the above areas include:

  • personnel: strengthening the legal foundations and building awareness with regard to performance orientation and corruption prevention; establishment of codes of conduct
  • finance system: strengthening an appropriate legal framework and institutional mainstreaming of internal and independent external community-level financial control bodies with clear responsibilities, adequate resources and explicit authority to identify corruption and to make recommendations on how to prevent corruption and impose sanctions
  • access: promotion of consultancy and information for parents regarding their rights and obligations; strengthening the participation of parents/ citizens in monitoring admission procedures
  • quality and quantity: support for the creation of an inspectorate; consultancy services to elaborate the legal basis for private instruction; consultancy services to lay down documentation requirements regarding the contents of instruction.

[adapted from author]