Teach ethics when they’re young

WHEN I read recently that university students will have to undergo a compulsory anti-corruption course from next year, a fitting Tamil proverb flashed across my mind: Ainthil valayathathu aimbathil valayathu (what does not bend at five, will not bend at 50).

The age when a student starts tertiary education is way too late to teach moral values and integrity. These vital components of a person’s character should rightly be taught from early childhood.