Anti-corruption Education and Awareness Raising of the Public
In accordance with the Republic of Lithuania Law on Prevention of Corruption, anti-corruption education of the public is an integral part of raising awareness of the public with a view to promoting personal integrity, the concept of the Lithuanian State, fostering civic responsibility, the rights and duties of an individual towards the public and ensuring the implementation of the aims of corruption prevention. This line of activity extends to all types and levels of educational establishments, state and municipal institutions and agencies through the mass media and otherwise.
Corruption-related offences are not lesser than the rest, this is the reason why STT seeks to change the sometimes indulgent views that the public holds towards corruption. This is particularly important, since assistance from the public is a great asset in investigating corruption-related offences.
Schools of General Education
The purpose of this line of activity is to develop the moral attitudes and capabilities of pupils necessary for shaping the civic anti-corruption position of young people.
Anti-Corruption Education in the Class
In implementing the provisions of the National Anti-Corruption Programme efforts are made to integrate anti-corruption education programmes into the subjects of history, political science, ethics and religious instruction.
The integration of anti-corruption education programmes approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Ministry of Culture and Science of the Republic of Lithuania into school curricula started in 2005. The measures of the programme were developed by the Public Institution Modern Didactics Centre, in cooperation with STT and Transparency International, Lithuanian Chapter.
STT staff, in cooperation with the representatives of municipal divisions of education present regularly to the principals of Lithuanian schools of general education the methodological tool for anti-corruption education “Possibilities for Anti-corruption Education in the School of General Education“ and put forward recommendations in respect of its implementation.
Extracurricular Anti-Corruption Education
Civic campaigns, pupil conferences, debates and other events are used in implementing the aims of education.
STT initiates and organises the marking of the United Nations Anti-Corruption Day in Lithuanian schools of general education to stimulate anti-corruption initiatives of pupils. For four years already it runs on that day a campaign “Education against Corruption” during which pupils take part in discussions as to the harm of corruption and holds creative competitions.
Anti-Corruption Education in Higher Education Establishments
The purpose of this line of activity is to develop the moral attitudes and capabilities necessary to shape the civic anti-corruption attitudes of young people, provide knowledge about the phenomenon of corruption and the problems posed by and the ways of dealing with corruption.
STT strives to integrate anti-corruption components into study programmes so that students have the opportunity to enrol on the specific optional courses, such as corruption and prevention, anti-corruption policy, corruption studies, etc.
STT arranges meetings with the representatives of universities and other higher education establishments, presents to them the opportunities to introduce integrated anti-corruption education programmes and recommends organising optional courses.
Since 2005, a course of anti-corruption education has been taught at Vilnius Pedagogical University; in 2006, Mykolas Romeris University supplemented the syllabus for a course in criminology with anti-corruption subject. Cooperation is also ongoing with Klaipėda University with respect to implementing anti-corruption education programmes. Kaunas University of Technology yearly invites STT representatives to meet the students.
Awareness Raising of the Public
STT actively communicates through the mass media and otherwise information about the activity of the Service, the rights of members of the public and opportunities to report corruption.
The website of the Service is regularly updated with information relevant to the public about STT activities and opportunities to contribute to reducing the level of corruption all over the country. The Service organises the broadcasting of audio and video social advertising, encourages resisting and reporting corruption and continually commissions articles of an educational character in the mass media. STT officials take part in public discussions on TV and radio.
Journalists are encouraged not only to take more active interest in, but also to analyse and explore the phenomenon of corruption and promote intolerance of the public towards corruption. Competitions of anti-corruption publications in investigative journalism “Media against Corruption” have been held since 2005. The authors of best articles are awarded at the events dedicated to the marking the United Nations Anti-Corruption Day.
