Kazakhstan: a teacher’s position costs a million
In the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan, employees of the anti-corruption department detained the head of the education department of the Sairam district, Kuralai Shadieva, and the director of secondary school No. 14, Arman Pernebaev, on suspicion of accepting a bribe.
According to investigators, both detainees requested one million tenges ($ 2,352) from a resident so that she could get a job at this school as a math teacher.
It should be noted that even three years ago, employment in a school as a simple teacher was much cheaper. So the positions of teachers were sold for $ 1,500, headteachers – $ 2,400, principals – from $ 4,500 to $ 15,000, depending on the region and location of the school (city or village).
To date, the position of headteacher costs $ 7000, principal – from $ 11200 to $ 23500.
It should also be clarified that in many towns, employment on credit is practiced – when a new teacher pays part of his salary every month to pay off a bribe.
A similar picture is observed in other areas of employment-related to the public sector. It should be clarified that despite the high amount of bribes, there are more than enough people who want to get a job in the public sector. This is because in the countryside there is practically no work, and the unemployment rate is much higher than official statistics shows. Meanwhile, working in the public sector is a stable income.
It should be noted that in addition to bribes for employing teachers, doctors and officials monthly give part of their salaries to their higher management so that they are not fired.
