Hanoi, 5 November 2015, Towards Transparency (TT) shares information from the Vietnam Youth Integrity Survey 2014 (YIS 2014) and Transparency International’s (TI’s) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) to support members of the 13th National Assembly, relevant government institutions and the media in studying the Government’s anti-corruption report 2015.
YIS 2014 shows that formal anti-corruption education has not affected youth perspectives on integrity
In the 10th meeting of the 13th National Assembly, the General Inspectorate, mandated by the Prime Minister, delivered a report on anti-corruption progress in 2015. The report said “The introduction of anti-corruption topics in educational institutions has begun to affect awareness of students and the younger generation”. In the footnote supporting this statement, the report cited a number of findings[1] from YIS 2014 which was conducted by TT and its partners[2].
Nonetheless, according to YIS 2014, when studying the impact of anti-corruption education on youth, 74 per cent of surveyed youth say they do not know or know very little about rules and policies related to integrity enhancement and anti-corruption[3]. The result was 73 per cent in the 2011 survey. Also, only 18 per cent say they receive anti-corruption education at school or other educational institutions.
In other words, YIS 2014 has not recognised any increased impact of anti-corruption education for youth. One possible reason shared by the YIS authors is that Project 137 on introducing anti-corruption topics into formal education programmes only started on a large scale in the 2013 – 2014 school year.
YIS 2014 also reveals that though Vietnamese young people understand and appreciate integrity, there is a big gap between awareness and action. Youth tend to compromise this value, particularly for the sake of family and friends.
The CPI result of Vietnam has not changed for three consecutive years (2012 – 2014)
In the Government’s report, when assessing the anti-corruption progress of Vietnam, the result of CPI, launched by TI in December 2014, is mentioned and the score of Vietnam is 31/100. The Government’s report said “Compared to the 2010 result, Vietnam’s score has increased 0.4, double the increase observed in the period from 2000-2010” and put in the footnote “Transparency International surveyed anti-corruption efforts of Vietnam in 2000 and gave a score of 2.5 points. In 2010, we only scored 2.7 points, increasing 0.2 points after 10 years. In 2014, Vietnam scored 3.1 points, increasing 0.4 after 4 years.”
In fact, since 2012, TI has changed its methodology, introducing the scoring system of CPI ranging from 0 – 100, replacing the previous range from 0 – 10. This means that the result of CPI 2012 cannot be compared with that of CPI 2011 and previous years. The comparison is only valid from 2013.
Accordingly, Vietnam’s CPI result has not changed for three consecutive years (2012 – 2014) and its score stayed at 31/100.
TT truly appreciates that the Government Inspectorate in particular, as well as organisations and individuals in general, have expressed interest in, and used data from the studies and reports completed in the framework of the TI programme coordinated by TT in Vietnam. We commit to provide up-to-date information to support national anti-corruption efforts.
We hope that this type of information exchange will help relevant stakeholders to have a comprehensive picture of corruption and anti-corruption progress in Vietnam, and subsequently contribute to effective policies and actions.
[1] Data from YIS cited in the Government’s report includes: 94 per cent of youth place honesty over wealth; 82 per cent place law compliance and integrity over wealth. 95 per cent think that a person of integrity will not give or receive bribe. 85 per cent consider lack of integrity as remarkably harmful for country, family and themselves. 87 per cent are willing to participate in anti-corruption initiatives, 81 per cent are willing to encourage their friends not to give envelope; 89 per cent promise not to cheat at school and at work.
[2] YIS 2014 was conducted by TI/TT in collaboration with Cecodes and Live&Learn, sponsored by DFAT, DFID, IrishAid and the Embassy of Finland in Hanoi.
[3] YIS 2014, page 11.