During the regular lesson of the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders, participants discussed the anti-corruption education and corruption in the education system. Mr. Marat Atovmyan, member of the Board of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, advocate, anti-corruption expert presented the topic.

According to the expert, there is a problem of ensuring transparency, accountability and public oversight of general and vocational education institutions.

There is a need to introduce anti-corruption policies in public and vocational education institutions that will provide:

1. Developing and implementing a Code of Conduct;
2. Development and introduction of a conflict of interest guide, including a conflict of interest declaration;
3. Development and implementation of internal monitoring policies;
4. Development and implementation of procurement policy (tender, budget),
5. Development and introduction of an anonymous compulsory assessment sheets system that will enable the trainers to freely evaluate the teachers they teach, then analyze the assessment sheets and take appropriate steps to improve the quality of education, and to provide honest and knowledgeable professionals. This mechanism is already in place in some higher education institutions, but it must be made universal and mandatory.

“It is also important to provide anti-corruption educational classes for students, to invite field experts to present successful examples of anti-corruption efforts and to present biographies of anti-corruption leaders. The experience of Lithuania, where interesting educational materials have been developed for schools, as well as comprehensive approaches adopted by Hong Kong and Singapore, can be instructive for Armenia,” Marat Atovmyan said.

The expert also noted that there are corruption risks in the postgraduate system, in particular in postgraduate studies, scientific management and other processes.

One of the main issues is nepotism. There are no criteria set for admission to the review, either positive or negative.

“The Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO is organizing the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders in cooperation with the Armenian CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition.

Iravaban.net independent information website is the information partner of the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders.