Vietnam will officially teach corruption prevention at high schools and educational institutions in the 2013-2014 academic year under a newly-issued directive by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. The government chief made the decision following the success of a three-year pilot scheme, which began in December 2009. The PM has asked the Government Inspectorate to check, approve and release necessary documents to train teachers on the issue. The agency is also requested to introduce an anti-corruption column on its website and offer information, advice and case studies of corruption at home and abroad to be used as reference for teachers and students. Ministries, state agencies and provincial and city People’s Committees are asked to oversee the implementation of the directive at educational and training facilities under their management. According to the Government Inspectorate, the number of corruption cases in Vietnam has been on the rise in recent years with the involvement of many senior officials. Last year, state bodies uncovered 49 cases of corruption involving 67 officials plus property embezzlement worth VND132.7 billion ($6.3 million). Deputy inspector-general Tran Duc Luong hoped that the scheme, together with many other drastic measures, would mark new progress in the fight against corruption. (www.chinhphu.vn [1] June 14)
