Abstract
Corruption is a pervasive practice in Nigeria that is commonly associated with government officials who divert public funds for private use, while minimal attention is paid to acts of corruption in the educational sector. This study, which is part of research on how language is used to drive and conceal corruption in Nigeria, aims at revealing some corrupt practices in Nigerian higher institutions that are concealed because of the euphemistic language used by students to describe and help perpetuate corrupt practices in their relationships with academic and non-academic staff of different institutions. Four institutions of higher education in south-west Nigeria were purposively selected and focus group discussions were conducted with 54 conveniently selected students of these institutions to collect qualitative data on the explanation of linguistic codes derived from the first phase of this study. The findings revealed extensive usage of ‘runs’ as a superordinate code for diverse acts of corruption including: sex for marks, cash for marks, sex/cash for grade alterations, examination malpractice, and the use of fake documents. Parents and guardians need to listen closely to the language of students in higher education for early detection of assimilation and acceptance of corrupt practices as a way of life.
Highlights
Corruption is a global social malady that distorts the established order of society by conferring undeserved benefits on individuals or groups
Responses during the focus group discussions showed that corrupt practices described as runs on campuses can be categorized into four categories, namely: 1. Trading sex for marks
Given that a number of illegal behaviors are collectively referred to as corruption, the findings regarding the existence of different euphemisms for runs is a new addition to the literature on corruption and euphemisms describing corruption
Summary
Corruption is a global social malady that distorts the established order of society by conferring undeserved benefits on individuals or groups. Transparency International (2007, p.15) defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power – by a public official or a businessperson for example – for private gain”. It classifies corruption into different categories as grand and petty, based on the amount of money lost and the sector involved. Petty corruption refers to the daily abuse of delegated power by low- and mid-level public officials in charge of providing access to basic amenities such as schools, healthcare services, security, and other services to the citizens. Corruption in higher education refers to a “lack of academic integrity” (Denisova-Schmidt, 2017, p.1). Corruption has escalated in Nigeria and its practices extend to the university system (Okojie, 2012 as cited in Uche, 2014)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
