Youth act to change corruption in education

9th December 2013, FACE Club (For A Clean Education) of Hoa Sen University organized a talk-show and exhibition event called “You can stop corruption by changing the way we learn” in celebration of the International Anti-Corruption Day.

The event encouraged students to adopt a number of simple yet practical actions that will change the way they learn and to prevent wrongdoings in education. FACE members, the organizer of the event, believe that for a society to become better and more resistant to corruption, it should foster uprightness, self-confidence and honesty in students within the school environment.

The highlight of the event was a talk show on “Corruption in education and the society of Vietnam”. The talk-show attracted around 100 participants from within and outside Hoa Sen University and was attended by Madame Ton Nu Thi Ninh, a former diplomat and President of Founding Board at Tri Viet University; Madame Bui Tran Phuong, President of Hoa Sen University; Professor Do Ba Khang, Dean of Faculty of Economics and Commerce; Dr. Pham Quoc Loc, Dean of Faculty of Languages and Cultural Studies and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, project manager at Binh Duong Television Station .

Related: Corruption in education in Vietnam.

In addition to TT’s presentation on the overview of corruption in education in Vietnam and case studies from around the world, the seminar featured discussion amongst guest speakers and participants. Madame Ninh expressed her concerns about the degradation of values amongst society, particularly young people, as well as her strong disapproval of people’s tolerance for petty corruption. She encouraged students not to follow such bad practice nor abet corruption.

Meanwhile, Madame Phuong highlighted the lack of honesty in education sector in Vietnam driven by the prevalence of copying, not quoting properly, cheating in examinations and giving envelops to teacher in exchange for higher scores. Through her personal stories, Madame Phuong convinced students that studying with integrity is essential for personal development and possible to follow in the current context. She believed that to restore young people’s trust in the society and to help them to say no to corrupt acts, they must be taught honesty from a young age at school.

Related:

• Academic Integrity: Will you speak up or  keep silence?
• Integrity Me Contest

At a sideline event, around 250 visitors came to enjoy an exhibition which illustrated the causes, situation and consequences of studying without integrity through posters, paper-made trees, black boxes and maps.

The event is part of a wider project between Hoa Sen University and Towards Transparency called “Change the way we learn”, which aims to promote academic integrity amongst students and teachers at Hoa Sen University.