Cleansing a corrupt system

The administrative innovations introduced by the Ministry of Education, headed by President Kumaratunga and the Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. Tara de Mel, in respect of Year One admissions and allied matters pertaining to our public school system, could be considered a stitch in time.

Described as corruption-proof and coming directly under the purview of the Ministry of Education, the selection of students to the Year One grade which proved highly controversial in the past, could now be considered to be in safe hands. It carries the added plus point of being handled by tamper-proof State-of-the-Art technology.

From now on, therefore, the selection of students to the crucial Year One grade wouldn't be a task for the public school Principal, except in the case of some categories of students. As is well known, some Principals of public schools were with reason accused of resorting to malpractices, particularly in the area of Year One admissions.

Complaints by parents and guardians were rife that the Year One admission process was riddled with corrupt practices, particularly in relation to popular public schools.

The opportunity could now be availed to rid the selection process of students to the public school system, of the administrative irregularities and distortions that assailed it in the past.

Besides, as explained in our lead story yesterday, the present reform would enable school Principals to devote some of their time to students' academic matters. If the quality of public school education is to improve, it goes without saying that Principals should devote more of their time to the upgrading of the education which is provided by their schools. They would now be in a position to do so.

However, we consider it our duty to remind the authorities that corruption is a two-way process. Corrupt officials and unscrupulous parents and elders work in tandem. If bribe takers exist, it is because bribe-givers too are rampant.

It is common knowledge that there are some parents and elders who go to any lengths to have their children admitted to what are considered "big schools." They are ably supported by corrupt officials in some State bodies who provide them with forged documents and other requirements.

Inasmuch as we welcome the current administrative reforms in relation to school admissions, we also alert the authorities to the need to crack down heavily on unscrupulous sections of the public who have hitherto sustained a system marred by corruption and irregularities.

A new vision for the UN

Many world leaders have stressed the need for reforming the United Nations. Sri Lanka has supported these calls, like its Asian neighbours. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan himself has upheld these suggestions in a report titled "In larger Freedom: Towards development, security and human rights for all".

Annan has called on world leaders to reach a new global deal to tackle the challenges of development, security and human rights and to overhaul the UN. These issues will be on the agenda of the UN General Assembly Sessions in September this year.

The need to overhaul the UN has become apparent due to what many analysts see as dilution of its powers in recent times. Indeed, UN sanction was not obtained for several crucial developments in world politics. The UN must not be seen as a talk shop; it must become the final arbiter on decisions and events that could possibly shape the future of the world. It must become a body where all countries have an equal say.

Annan's report is a step in the right direction, as it promotes a re-alignment of the world body to give additional weight to key development, security and human rights issues while setting out plans to make it more efficient, open and accountable. The Millennium Development Goals have been given a prominent place in the UN's new vision.

As Annan points out, these reforms are within reach. Member States can agree to these proposals in September itself. One of the most significant proposals is the call for increased overseas development assistance by developed countries.

North-South inequality is a blight on cooperation among the member nations of the UN. Rich countries can do much more to help their poor cousins, in terms of both aid and trade. A robust trading system sans protectionist barriers will create a level playing field for developing countries, which will then be able to earn more foreign exchange through exports.

The UN will have to tackle many more serious issues in the years to come: Climate change, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, the population explosion, poverty and child labour are among them. Concerted action by all countries is necessary to deal with these critical issues. The UN needs to be stronger, more focused and decisive as the world enters a challenging era.