Somaliland:Specific Risks of corruption in the class room

Teachers are probably the most valuable resource in education. Even in most adverse condition, a committed teacher can make a huge difference to students ‘future.  Roofs  can  leak, text books  can fail to arrive, chairs and desks may be lacking; even so, a determined and competent teacher  can make up for it.  Without a teacher, however, education will simply not take place.

A teacher is a role model by transcending values such as impartiality  and fairness, children will feel that their talent is valued and their efforts are  valued are honored.  A teacher shapes attitudes if He/she respects children in their diversity, students will learn that all humans have equal rights at the side of education regardless of their gender, ethnicity, class or caste. By taking principled decision and displaying integrity in his/her relations with students, colleagues and community, teachers promote ethical values and behavior that are fundamental for a society that doesn’t tolerate corruption.

As in all spheres of society, however, the position of power can be abused for personal gains. Teachers can exploit their position by biasing towards a certain group of students, or negligent, or undisciplined. In a corrupt classroom, students will learn less, and they will learn wrong things. There are specific risks of corruption in the class in our poor education control system including  some teachers may sell  advance information about  examination  some others  may force students to take private tutoring, through coercion or persuasion by not teaching the curriculum in the class  but only in supplementary private lessons. Misuse of school property for private purpose is another form of teacher corruption. In Somaliland where there is low payment and weak supervision, teachers may not show up for work or may be present at school but not teaching.

All in all classroom corruption is more acceptable in our societies with weak norms of meritocracy; in other words, in a corrupt environment in our country there is a higher chance that will be corruption including: to sell advance information about examination; forcing students to take private tutoring, through coercion or persuasion by not teaching the curriculum in the class but only in supplementary private lessons and Misusing  of school property for private purpose is another form of teacher corruption.

On the Other  hand  Where teaching  conditions are poor as in rural areas in our country  that lack of teacher districts  and have a poor sanitation,   the  risk of absenteeism are high  because teachers are more likely to act as power brokers  where the community lacks status  and knowledge and  government doesn’t dare to challenge corrupt establishment. In our country the most enable factor for corruption and unethical behavior are lack of supervision, lack of public awareness and lack of sanction against them. So let us work together to correct our education systems.

                                                Thanks !

 Mohamoud Dahir Omar

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