NSAC223 ESSAY

If I begin by defining what corruption is, you will find it boring, not because it’s a toddler stage that we all experience but rather an acquaintance that inherently makes us victims. We all have encountered it at its simplicity. I have a consensus with the pontiff that Corruption is paid by the poor. It’s high time we had an in depth reflection upon this cancer that has kept us far from our set targets and expectations which binds us in the shackles of poverty and a vicious cycle of underdogs on the party yet we are the gardeners and gatherers.

Dear headteacher! Do you remember that light skinned lady whom you denied employment but the next day you called her to your office? We all know she spent the night at your crib.                                                                                       Cry out thee student-that admissions’ office has  been a nightmare with those angry voices dissenting despite your good grades. Thomas, whose grades are barely half of mine, posted his admission and simply told us that his Papa had taken charge!                                                                                                                                                                           Oh Poor teacher! I can see you wrinkle with gray hair without ever tasting a payroll. On every attempt you are told that you are not good enough. Last week your mate told you that it is a  back door thing into the service commission and your faith went into a coma.                                                                        Madam invigilator, you carry the burden of mediocrity! Do you think that the few “papers” you received on that afternoon are worth the impact after students cheat exams? The jeopardy is  more than we can imagine.                    I will not forget my Head prefect who knows it in and out that without sweets and money, he will barely win half of the poll-well done good parents for this support but you have to regret one day!                                                           The memory of studying under trees and in those reed and mud makeshifts can not simply fade off. I am only a part of the millions of children in this dilemma. Hey minister! I am not sure how you feel about this but rest assured the edge is inclined in the wrong direction and soon we will fall off the cliff.

All this is a drop in the ocean of the daily struggles that accrue due to our negligence to combat this cancer. Apparently, we begin to adopt such a meagre way of living and continue to transcend these irreparable harms to the next generation. While we continue to point out to mega corruption cases, its pivotal to realise that it is the “smalI” daily acts that propagate into this. A better perspective is to consider anything obtained outside the circle of merit or what we often call backdoors as corruption and work towards complete eradication of this. However, the feasibility of this lies in joining hands. It is a concerted effort that is more fulfilling when it comes to architecting the future. But what then can we do? 

Every citizen, young and old, rich and poor needs to take utmost responsiblity refreshend by intergrity and be keen on any corruption incidents. We must then report to concerned authorities and have a  follow up. We need to ensure that just and sustainable remedies are upheld among students, teachers, local governments and the Education Ministry.

Most importantly, everyone of us should set a good influence for others. We need to be examplary and better inculcate such manners to the young. It is only then we will be able to bring about radical change that is needed for society transformation. Let us be guiding stars especially to the young and sing in unison against any form of backdoor.

Government ought to be more strigent on the law’s establishment. Let the victims be punished so as to deter future incidents. We continue to be astonished that despite the myriad Anti- corruption institutions, we continue to stagnate  below average results when it comes to minimising corruption. We need structural reforms within these institutions that are aimed at coherency, accountability and devotion to the cause.

In a nut shell our poor performance on the global corruption index continues to reaffirm our poor stand in combating this crisis. We need to refocus our priorities and better tackle this issue otherwise our future is at risk. When our children fail to get education, it means their potential is locked and thus excluded in the competitive global space that demands cut-edging research and Innovation. Consequently, we lose out on the whole idea of bettering our lives as a nation. We need to further recognize that this is an urgent and critical issue and that above our individual interests lies the common good of society. This calls for never ending commitment and l will say let these attempts be our daily song.