Halfway down the Danube

The beast is rearing its ugly head

"Rich countries must provide practical support to developing country governments that demonstrate the political will to curb corruption. In addition, those countries starting with a high degree of corruption should not be penalised, since they are in the most urgent need of support," said Peter Eigen, Chairman of Transparency International (TI), speaking today on the launch of the TI Corruption Perceptions Index 2003 (CPI).
Transparency International

On the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, Romania scores 2.8 points on a scale from 1 to 10 (worst to best), leaving it in 84th place behind such countries as Colombia, Ghana and Bulgaria (3.9/55). That's not so great but we all knew that.

I haven't had much experience with this dark side of Romanian culture, mainly because I'm not venturing much into bureaucracy and politics. This morning, however, we received a letter from Alan's school. And suddenly the whole issue was brought uncomfortably close to home.

The school is small, and there are a lot more applications than there are places for children. So there are waiting lists for most classes. We were lucky -- Alan got in after just a short wait -- but it's not unusual for children to be on the list for six months or even longer before a place opens up. Because of this, the school has a strict first come-first served policy; if you want your child to go there, you apply, pay a fee, and wait your turn.

So, the letter. This morning all the parents who dropped off their children got a letter from the director. Key paragraphs:

We had an unscheduled (3 hour) visit on Monday from the Sanitary Police who are asking for wide ranging changes regarding the lunch arrangements. They also informed us that we would be liable to 20 million lei [$600] fines and possible closure. However, it was suggested that if we admitted 2 children (one on the waiting list and one not) then these problems would go away.

Today, I was also approached via an intermediary of the President of the [deletia] who was intervening on behalf of another parent who has a child on the waiting list.

The letter went on to say that the school had decided not to move the children up the list.

This is upsetting and appalling. I do not want the school closed but I am absolutely supporting the decision of the Head of School and the Board of Administrators not to give in. I so do not want a child of such a person in my son's class. It actually makes me want to punch someone. (Someone who deserves it, of course, so don't worry about Doug or the kids!) I guess it's a good thing that we have some kids from Diplomats and that other parents are high-ranking business people. Maybe there is some counter-pressure that can be applied. Personally, we're thinking of spilling the story to a journalist we know.

Ironically, Transparency International has just a month ago or so launched a big campaign called "Nu Da Şpagă!" (Don't bribe!). They have a web site, and a very cool TV spot which they air on national TV and on National Geopgraphic. (It a big file, so not for dial-ups!) Is it going to help? I don't know. Webster's Online Dictionary states that " the campaign seeks to solve a problem which has remained since Communist times in Romania but which has recently improved."

I have to say that the bribery problem is not a Communist product. It existed before Communism, and, obviously, has outlasted it. Suggestive that it might not be so easy to fix, eh?

I don't know what the answer is. But in this case, we support the school, and we hope (a little nervously) that their brave stand will not be punished.

Posted by claudia at October 1, 2004 09:59 AM