Abstract

Corruption goes beyond offering money. This menace has crept into the inner precincts of the citadels of learning
hence the tag ‘academic corruption’. Academic corruption include all selfish acts that are contrary to the just and
equitable delivery of higher education resulting from the moral impurity of staff and students that deviate from the
expected ideal behaviours. In this context, academic corruption comprises plagiarism, fabrication, deception,
cheating, bribery, sabotage, professional misconduct on the part of lecturers, impersonation on the part of
students, the use of institutional authority or name for personal gain in the process of higher education delivery
and reception. This paper examined the implication of academic corruption on quality education. Quality education
is such that provides learners with the capacity required to become economically beneficial, develop sustainable
livelihood, contribute to peaceful and democratic society through enhanced individual wellbeing. It also deals with
standard, efficiency, relevance, appropriateness and values. Thus, quality education is critical to a society that
requires quality manpower for rapid development and transformation, and all these may not be feasible if an
educational system is afflicted with corruption because academic corruption interferes with the basic mission of
education. There is need therefore to avoid the sabotage of development by ensuring the formation of educated,
competent and upright individuals for future leadership and growth.