Ethics and corruption in education: an overview

Recent surveys suggest that leakage of funds from ministries of education to schools represent more than 80 per cent of the total sums allocated for non salary expenditures in some countries; bribes and payoffs in teacher recruitment and promotion tend to lower the quality of public school teachers; and illegal payments for school entrance and other hidden costs help explain low school enrolment and high drop out rates. This paper argues that the problems posed by corruption in education have been neglected for too long. It details the three assumptions that underlie the "Ethics and corruption in education" project of the IIEP. It then describes the approach followed to tackle this sensitive issue within the framework of the project. Finally, it summarizes a few conclusions drawn from the research so far in three areas: teacher behaviour, teacher management and private tutoring. It concludes by identifying key strategies for improving transparency and accountability in education.