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Education Sector Corruption in Ethiopia 109
• Corruption is perceived as the most likely in contracting, then in decision
making, then in service delivery, in that order of significance.
Responses to the same question were inconclusive when asked of
higher-education officials.
• Bribes received are likely to be shared first with superiors, then with a
political party, and then with colleagues, in that order.
• The value of bribes received is reported as increasing in relation to the
annual income of the post holder. In other words, where public officials
believe that more senior post holders are receiving bribes, they consider
the value of such bribes to be higher than could realistically be demanded
by themselves or by more junior officials.
• In most cases, the user (or private sector representative), rather than
the public official, initiates corrupt deals. A similar pattern of responses
was received from higher-education officials.
Discretionary powers. An Ethiopian proverb—“Sishom Yalbela Sishar
Ykochewal”—roughly translates into English as follows: “One who does
not exploit to the full his position when he is promoted will lament when
he no longer has the opportunity.”
One feature of Ethiopia’s unique political heritage is the lack of
discretionary powers available to middle-ranking and junior functionaries
at each of the three administrative levels. Accounts abound of
officials being unwilling to take responsibility for ad hoc decision making
and instead referring matters up the hierarchy. In addition, cultural
factors including tribal alignment can have a bearing on decision making.
Combined with these factors is a strong sense that, although most
people need to play by the rules, some do not and can act with impunity.
This is expressed through a wide range of sentiments, ranging from
politicized resentment to a grudging acceptance, bordering on admiration,
for those able and willing to exercise power in this way.
In Ethiopia’s decentralized yet authoritarian system, considerable
powers exist among senior officials at the federal, regional, and woreda
levels. Of particular relevance to this study is the discretion exercised
by politically appointed officials at the woreda level, directly affecting
the management of teachers. In cases where measures are taken against
teachers and headmasters, including dismissals, they are generally initiated
from the woreda level rather than by community action, with
limited involvement of the semiformal institutions such as the boards
and PTAs.