34% of respondents view publicity as best way to combat corruption

YEREVAN, December 27. /ARKA/. Ara Navasardyan, president of Armenian Marketing Association said Wednesday that 34% of surveyed students think that the best way of combating corruption is to make public all corruption cases.

He also said referring to the results of the public opinion poll conducted by the association in four universities as part of the program focused on anticorruption mechanisms elaboration in higher education system.

Navasardyan said that 20% of the surveyed pointed out increase of professors’ salaries, 15% reformation of examination system, 11% protection of students’ rights and improvement of entrance exams system and 6% protection of professors’ rights as the best means to combat corruption.

“35.2% of respondents see the cause of corruption in low wages in universities, 16.1% personal characteristics of professors, 11.6% impunity, 6.2% students’ poor knowledge, 3.1% ambition to get high marks and 2.7% insufficient protection of professors’ rights”, Navasardyan said.

According to the survey’s results, 58% of respondents found professors dismissal, 42% fines, 36% public reprimand, 17% warning by superior authorities and 11% prosecution and jailing as the most effective punishment for corruption.

“23% view the government as key institution in crackdown on corruption, 22% pointed out Education Ministry, 18% professors, 12% mid-level managing personnel, 10% superior managing personnel, 7% student councils, 5% students and 3.9% all the mentioned entities together”, Navasardyan said.

The poll was organized by ASM. For this purpose, the US Embassy in Armenia allocated $14,000 in February-December 2007. 1,500 students of YSU, YSAU, French University in Armenia and Gladzor University, as well as 30 experts from the RA Ministry of Education and Science and other organizations were surveyed. M.V.-0--