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Fight against corruption is a collective responsibility : Unical VC

Unical VC, Prof. Zana Akpagu

The Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu has called on the Staff of the Institution and stakeholders in the education sector to see the fight against corruption in the sector as a collective responsibility.

Prof. Akpagu represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Lucy Udida made the call at the 8th Annual Conference of the Faculty of Education held at the Senate Chamber of the Institution.

He said corruption in education has disastrous effect on a Country’s wellbeing and the highest cost of corruption in education is loss of credibility, therefore, ethical values should be embedded and taught in the curriculum of Institutions of learning.

He said, “We all know the havoc that corruption wreaks on education. It allows scarce funds dedicated to education to leak away into private hands, it entrenches mediocrity and it ultimately retards social and economic development”.

The Vice Chancellor thanked the staff and management of the faculty and enjoined them to eschew corrupt practices.

Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Chris Chukwurah said the theme of the Conference, “Education, Corruption and Governance” was anchored on the present administration’s war against corruption which he said has’ eaten deep into the fabric of society’.

Similarly, the keynote speaker, Prof. Grace Chibiko Offorma apart from admitting that all manner of corruption has been experienced  in educational Institutions, went ahead to identify some of them as “extortion, bribery, sorting, sexual harassment, intimidation, ‘put my name syndrome’ and nepotism.

Prof Offorma enlarged the list to include “plagiarism, falsification of research results, detouring of academic record, examination malpractices in all their ramifications, bribing nonacademic staff to bypass bureaucratic procedures, and misappropriation of funds”.

As a way of tackling the ugly trend, She recommended that  government should develop a frame work that should promote quality education and good governance, increase budget allocation to education; curriculum at all levels of education should emphasize skills acquisition to promote self-reliance as well as students imbibing the spirit of hard work.

She also stated that leaders in every sector of the economy should realize that their sole responsibility is to render service, and also leaders found guilty of any corrupt practice should face the law as teachers at all levels of education should teach their students very well to inculcate confidence in them.

The Lead paper presenter, Prof. Charles Ogbodo said corruption in education especially in higher education deserves special attention because of the impact it has on society and hence efforts to eradicate corruption should be geared towards enhancing the quantity, quality and efficiency of the education system and access to education.

He rued the current state of corruption in higher education describing it as appalling as the social menace appears to have invaded the whole systems of higher education and threatens the reputation of graduates and research output regardless of guilt or innocence.

The University Don maintained that when governance structures are strengthened, dedicated funds are properly utilized, corrupt officials prosecuted, corruption and its harmful effects in education and society will be considerably minimized.

Highlights of the event were presentation of faculty of Education fabric to the Resource persons and a group photograph.
Prof Zana Akpagu 1723237653616792566

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