If you look at countries with a lot of corruption, then there's this sense that "everyone uses corruption to get ahead, and I'd be a fool not to". This view is not entirely wrong.

I don't envy students here; aside from the shining examples meritocracy, hard work, and accountability that you mentioned, you're also left with a feeling of "well, everyone else is using ChatGPT, and I'd be a fool not to". I don't entirely blame them, as the choice is between "use ChatGPT for one hour and get a passing grade" and "do my own work for six hours and get a passing grade". Of course the outcomes are not the same as there is value in doing the work yourself as it will give you a much better understanding of things, but taking delayed gratification in account has never been a top quality of young people.