Wednesday, November 17, 2004

43 PERCENT OF STUDENTS READY TO JOIN ANTI-CORRUPTION INITIATIVE AGAINST UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Nikol Aghbalian student organization and the Armenian Youth Forum unveiled today the findings of a survey they conducted between January and September this year among students of 11 state-run universities to disclose the students' perception of university corruption. Another goal pursued by the survey organizers was to learn one of the main reasons behind university corruption and what the students thought about fighting against it.

Some 18 percent of respondents said the corruption resulted from very low salaries of their professors, 17 percent said bribes are paid by male students who want to dodge their compulsory military service and 16 percent said corruption flourishes because corrupted professors enjoy university managers protection.

Twenty-two percent of students believe the majority of bribes is paid during entrance and post-graduate examinations. Yet another 20 percent believe that university corruption can be fought against given the support of university managers, state officials and students themselves.

Forty-three percent said they were ready to join any anti-corruption initiative, while 32 percent believe that any such initiative is doomed to failure.

Between 2000-2004 only five professors were dismissed on charges of corruption.

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