WINDHOEK – Namibian public schools both at primary and secondary level will soon see an anti-corruption education manual incorporated in their life skills curriculum.
The manual, which will be used as a tool for teachers responsible for life skills subjects in public schools, has been developed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as part of its drive to educate the public on the corrosive impact of corruption.
The manual that was jointly launched yesterday by the ACC, the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) and the Ministry of Education contains significant topics on different elements of corruption such as the causes of corruption and its impact on socio-economic issues, behavioural change and silent corruption, among others.
ACC Director Paulus Noa yesterday said the manual is viewed as a useful tool in teaching the values of ethics and integrity.
“It is the strong belief and conviction of the commission (ACC) that the most effective strategy in preventing and combating corruption is to educate the youth on the destructive consequences of corruption on their future and the economy. Learners of today are national leaders of tomorrow, both in the public and private sectors. Thus, they have a meaningful role to play to prevent corruption,” he said.
The ACC also deems it appropriate that learners should be taught the basic values of ethical behaviour.
He added that learners may not realise the significance of resisting and rejecting corruption in future if they are not properly taught about the values of good conduct at primary and secondary school level.
“They need to be well positioned and prepared to become the catalysts for disseminating anti-corruption information and the promotion of values of good governance in future,” Noa noted.
The manual also touches on aspects such as the harmful impact of corruption on human development, the economy, essential public service delivery, democracy, education and health.
Furthermore, it urges learners to show loyalty and patriotism to their motherland.
Officially launching the manual, Dr David Namwandi, the Minister of Education said corruption is a global disease and a monumental challenge.
“It affects the quality of education through ghost marks and sex for marks. When I was the deputy minister of education, I personally reported the sex for marks scandal to the ACC to investigate the matter,” Namwandi told the joint launch of the ACC educational manual.
The education minister is optimistic that inculcating the values of ethics and integrity largely contribute to the reduction of corruption. Therefore, Namwandi called for a “corruption-free society,” characterised by accountability, transparency, integrity, democracy, political will and freedom of expression.
To date about 2 000 copies of the manual have been printed. Once life skills teachers get training in the subject only then can they start teaching it in schools. The training is expected to start end of June latest.
By Albertina Nakale