We only consider that the responsibility of a student is to learn lessons including getting to school/class on time, attending it regularly and submitting work on time, doing one's best on exams and assignments. Students, of course, assume the responsibility for their own learning including getting to school and class on time. But in addition to that, students should learn something more that will guide their trait and faith in their future life. In educational institutions, there are a very few endeavours to uphold the character of students or exercise the integrity in their day-to- day life, study or exam they face.
When we open a newspaper in the morning, most headlines scream about corruption, frauds and scams involving millions of taka. Who commits these crimes?
Most of the wrongdoers are well-educated persons. A very few of the corrupt practices are being committed by illiterate people. It is expected that educated persons would display civilised behaviour, decency, good manners and ethical conduct. With a huge expansion of the education system, the standard as measured by the percentage of marks obtained in examinations has been rising to unprecedented levels. But, unfortunately, there is a marked decline in character, moral values and general behaviour of students coming out of schools and colleges everywhere.
It is generally accepted that five universal human values i.e. truth, righteous conduct, peace, love and non-violence are directly linked to physical, intellectual, emotional consciousness and spiritual surface of human personality. We need an education system that speaks about creating awareness of social justice and compassion, equality, secularism, gender equality, concern for environment, social cohesion and national unity, quality of life, and scientific outlook and spirit of enquiry.
Therefore, learning materials should be designed to equip students with the ability to combat social evils like religious fundamentalism, etc., on one hand and develop a scientific temper and habit of logical, rational thinking, on the other.
Unfortunately, very little action has been taken to implement this important part of education. We need to take concrete action of framing study curriculum and adaptation of innovative methods to inculcate values and ethics in students.
Educating people, particularly young students, about the consequences of corruption is fundamental to prevention of corruption strategy. To address this, the ACC has formed as many as 20,855 Integrity Units ((IUs) throughout the country in different educational institutions. Another aspect of character building is the environment at home of the student. Various studies say that values and habits once formed in childhood are difficult to change.
The child's performance even at school is largely determined by the environment at home. Therefore, parents' involvement for character building in the learning process at school is absolutely essential. Once they come to know about it, they may be able to modify their behaviour at home before permanent damage is done to mind-set of the children.
The Integrity Unit: As many as 11 students comprise an integrity unit. They have to be best students and or best players or organisers in their school from Class XI to Class XII. Moreover, there is a 'Teachers Council' comprising 3-5 teachers of that educational institution to guide and monitor the activities of Integrity Unit. An unit is responsible for:
(a) Performing any duty of ethics building programme entrusted to them by anti-corruption law.
(b) Carrying out training course on mentoring for ethics building on prevention of corruption for their peer students.
(c) Promoting values of honesty and integrity in order to prevent corruption and take measures to build up awareness campaign against corruption.
(d) Creating ethical standards within their school premise.
(e) Identifying sources of different types of corruption existing in their schools.
(f) Establishing, maintaining and monitoring 'Integrity Stores' in their schools which are opened with technical and financial assistance of Anti Corruption Commission for inculcating the practices of honesty and integrity in their real-life situations.
This is a store without seller to sell educational and study equipments and snacks. The students take their necessary items by their own hand from the store by paying due price for the commodity to the cash box. The price is levelled on the commodity. No bargains and no misappropriation take place. Transaction takes place on complete trust, faith and confidence. This trust-building initiative has been taken with an intention that when they will be grown-up citizens, they will play the same role as they behaved in their boyhood.
The ACC has been trying hard to create a value system in the mindset of young students. Students learn to believe throughout their life that honesty is the best policy.
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin is Director General, Anti-Corruption Commission
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