When corruption spreads in education, it not only undermines procedures and institutions, but also young people's faith that knowledge, work and honesty have value, said Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Judiciary and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica at the Anti-Corruption Forum "Corruption in Education", organised by BIRN and the Civic Alliance.
Koprivica said that corruption in education is not just a matter of purchased diplomas and exams, but a much broader phenomenon that can affect the entire system, including regulations, procedures and academic processes.
He stated that after ten years, Montenegro received a new Anti-Corruption Strategy, which includes measures to combat corruption in education.
"Young people must see that institutions operate according to the law, that knowledge is valued, and that unfair practices are sanctioned," said Koprivica.
President of the Council of Agencies for the Prevention of Corruption, Pavle Ćupić, said that the issue of integrity in education must be one of the key social issues, because the education system shapes future generations and patterns of behavior.
Ćupić stated that the field of education has been recognized as particularly sensitive to corruption risks, especially in higher education, which is why ASK conducts training, analyses of regulations, and activities aimed at strengthening integrity and transparency.
BIRN Montenegro Executive Director Vuk Maraš said that corruption in education leads to the devaluation of diplomas and knowledge, the departure of the best personnel from the country and the collapse of trust in institutions.
"Corruption in education leads to the equating of those who earned their degrees honestly with those who earned them illegally," said Maraš.
He called on institutions, decision-makers and the academic community to work towards creating a system in which knowledge and work are more important than connections and money.
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