Mr. Bangura described corruption as the abuse of authority by public officers for personal gain. He said corruption in the education sector would lead to academic dishonesty which include among others, fraud, manipulation of results, award of unfair grades, bribery for grades, teachers requesting pupils to pay for the correction of assignments, and exchange of grades for sexual favors. He said that young people should resist and reject all forms of corruption within the academic sphere. He noted the fight against corruption should be part of the daily activities of pupils and teachers. The Manager maintained, when checks and balances, strong leadership and a culture of academic honesty are missing, breaches of academic integrity among teachers and pupils may go undetected or unpunished. Bangura said if schools do not address these risks and take steps to rectify them, the entire system of higher education will be undermined. In concluding his presentation, Mr. Bangura cautioned all to be corrupt free and encouraged them to report any suspected incidences of corrupt practices to the Commission at all times.
In his opening statement, ACC Public Education Officer, Sahr Nabieu admonished pupils and teachers to prepare their minds and become agents in the fight against graft. He said the Public Education Department is charged with the responsibility to raise public awareness on the mandate and work of the ACC. He stressed that young people are key in eradicating corruption hence, the urge to catch the young. He elucidated on the three pronged approach used in the fight against corruption. The Public Educator informed the audience about DFID Pay No Bribe (PNB) campaign program implemented by the Anti-Corruption Commission and its partners. He continued that the PNB is piloted in the Western Urban and Rural Districts, Bo District (Southern Region), Kenema District (Eastern Region) and Bombali District (Northern Region); and in the Sierra Leone Police, Health, Education, Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority, Sierra Leone Water Company and GUMA Valley Water Company. Mr. Nabieu encouraged the pupils to be studious and called on teachers to maintain high standards in the teaching profession.
Earlier, the Principal of the Experimental Secondary School who doubled as the Coordinator of the Syndicate Sheku Kamara lauded the ACC for motivating the pupils and teachers to embrace the fight against corruption. He said the Commission is substantially assisting the Education Sector and the schools in improving education in the District.
Questions and answers and the distribution of Information, Education and Communication materials formed the high point.
