Stop corruption in higher learning institutions

JALIN MAE G. DE ASIS

Corruption is everywhere. Experts are saying that even government run institutions like state universities and colleges (SUCs) are not spared from this predicament.

Maybe compared to other government entities amassing hard-earned people’s taxes, corruption inside SUCs might be thought to be the small time or less impact problem in governance.

However, take note that schools are the second home of knowledge and values of an individual, therefore, graft and corruption values - inherited, observed or adapted- must first be cut within its grooming point.

Corruption in SUCs thrives in any given situation, whether small/large scale corruption it's the same, impact varies, effect differs, and those affected are the same.

Let us practice prevention as it would dispel the curse of corruption in the society especially in civil service.

To do this, government resources or the SUCs should be focused on research, learn how to mitigate and later on eradicate corruption by instituting reforms, policy and controls. The people in the government must be proactive and leave the thought of the reactive side.

A healthy governance system in SUCs can lead to a sustainable community with a more sustainable solution to fight corruption.

In the area of public accountability, it has been the practice that government anti-corruption crusaders run after culprits, after the latter, had amassed a large amount of government funds; a whistle-blower “blows” out information in an illegal government transaction, or a recurrence of a complaint in the same government frontline service.

The SUCs should institute concrete and implementable control and preventive policies in government processes through extensive research and corruption prevention audit tools.

As a people, we must accept and internalize the value of corruption prevention in government organizations. Let us not get tired of thinking that there still hope in fighting corruption.

The SUCs t should practice “leadership by example” and let them set the tone at the top. Practice good governance principles as the leaders in government is the heart and soul of a corruption prevention audit tool.

It is in the hands of the head of such government learning of higher institutions to implement a policy to prevent corruption at its door step.

Let us be an instrument of change, a catalyst of good governance and the practice of corruption prevention.

Let us stop corruption in government higher learning institutions.

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The author is Teacher I at Mandili High School in the Municipality of Candaba, Pampanga.