Skopje, 9 October 2023 (MIA) — State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption chairwoman Biljana Ivanovska visited the July 26th Elementary in Skopje's Shuto Orizari as part of a USAID-funded campaign for raising awareness of corruption in the education system.

"Be the Heroes of Honesty" campaign events, including student surveys, are being organized in thirteen elementary schools across the country, Ivanovska said.

According to her, many of the polled students so far said they often faced injustice, including getting grades they did not deserve. Very often parents put pressure on their children to get straight A's or asked teachers to give their children higher grades, she said.

"So this is why we think it is important for them to build their values and not to study to get a good grade but to study to gain knowledge," Ivanovska said.

Parents, she said, should serve as role models for their children and stand up to nepotism.

Following the events organized in five Skopje schools, Ivanovska said the campaign would continue in eight elementaries in Shtip, Kochani, Strumica, Ohrid, and Tetovo.

"We want to help students better recognize this social evil," the anti-corruption commission chairwoman said.

School principal Besare Sejdi said schoolchildren were already familiar with corruption.

"For them to stay in this beautiful country of ours, we should instill in them the value of honesty," Sejdi said, adding that campaign events had started in April and involved students, parents and teachers.

"These children will be the ones who will influence their families, their neighbors, and the community to take action against corruption," the principal said.

The anti-corruption campaign, led by the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, is part of the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Activity carried out with the financial support of USAID. mr/