Corruption in Education System: A Growing Concern

A recent study has highlighted the alarming extent of corruption within Russia’s education system. The investigation found that bribery and other forms of corruption are rampant among officials responsible for supervising the sector.

Bribery and Corruption

According to the report, individual cases of bribery involving teachers and professors are prosecuted only when specific evidence is available. However, there is no requirement for middle and high school representatives or primary education officials to declare their income and assets, unlike in the public service.

• This has led to significant gaps between the wages of ordinary teachers and university rectors, with the latter earning hundreds of times more than the former.
• This has created an unacceptable moral obligation for teachers to disclose their income and assets.

Lack of Effective Regulation

The report also highlights the problem of inadequate legal regulation in the education sector. The Federal Law “On Education in the Russian Federation” does not provide specific measures of responsibility for educational institutions and employees who violate students’ rights or engage in corrupt activities.

• Moreover, the law delegates a significant number of standards to the Government of Russia for adoption of regulations, which can lead to ambiguity and confusion.
• This lack of effective regulation has contributed to the proliferation of corruption within the education system.

Anti-Corruption Expertise

The study emphasizes the importance of anti-corruption expertise in detecting corruption-generating factors and ensuring the quality of legal acts. The Federal Law “On Combating Corruption” identifies examination as a measure for preventing corruption, and the law on anti-corruption examination of regulatory legal acts outlines the basic principles of this process.

• Corruption potential can be identified by analyzing various characteristics, including:
  • Discretionary powers
  • Competence
  • Selective changes in rights scope
  • Excessive freedom in subordinate rulemaking
  • Adoption beyond competence
  • Filling legislative gaps
  • Absence or incompleteness of administrative procedures
  • Rejection of tender (auction) procedures

Conclusion

==========

The study concludes that corruption is a significant problem within Russia’s education system, driven by inadequate regulation and a lack of transparency. To address this issue, it is essential to:

• Establish effective measures of responsibility for educational institutions and employees.
• Ensure the quality of legal acts through anti-corruption expertise.

Only then can we hope to create a fair and corruption-free environment for students and teachers alike.