In the media

A Supreme Court mandate has prompted an expansive audit of private, non-government, and deemed universities in India. The directive follows a student's conflict over a name amendment, revealing larger concerns about administrative transparency and governance within these institutions, and in particular the prevalence of slow or ineffective grievance response systems within Indian higher education. Other areas where opaque practices are often reported, such as admission, recruitment and use of funds, are also now under direct examination.

Education authorities in the Philippines have signed a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) to take action against “diploma mills”. The establishment of the JMC is a direct response to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which found an alarming level of unaccredited and substandard programs in higher education, especially in teacher education. The JMC addresses this until 2029 by establishing, among others, an Online National Registry (ONR) and a Quality Assurance Harmonization Committee to create transparency over accredited programs.

Ghost teachers and fund leakage continue to plague schools in Nigeria’s Gombe district. Despite biometric verification of all civil servants (including teachers) since 2019, the system was never fully automated and significant gaps remain in the process. As a result, some absent teachers continue to receive a paycheck while those who are present may wait months to be paid. Education experts suggested increased transparency and citizen oversight could help tackle this issue.

The Federal Government has unveiled a landmark initiative aimed at entrenching transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s tertiary education system with the official launch of the Federal Government Tertiary Institution Governance and Transparency Platform (FTIGTP). The initiative will serve as a unified digital platform providing real-time access to accurate data and financial information across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The platform aims not only to strengthen public confidence but also improve efficiency in the management of educational resources and foster innovation.

To address corruption in Ukraine’s education sector, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention has held an event to publish its “Education Integrity Development Strategy for 2026–2030”. The campaign aims to instil a culture of honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour across all levels of education. It plans concrete reforms, including updating teaching materials and teacher training in integrity.

Kuwait’s Education Minister formed a committee to check for procurement irregularities and review 115 schoolbook printing and supply contracts for the 2025/2026 school year. The panel, comprising legal and Fatwa Department experts, will audit bids, exclusions, and deadlines, and will have one month to provide their findings and recommendations.

A technical review of Ghana’s computerized school placement system is underway as the Ministry of Education seeks to boost transparency, fairness, and efficiency in senior high school admissions. The review, led by a team of education managers, ICT experts, and student and parent representatives, aims to modernize the system and restore public confidence in one of the country’s key education gateways.

The Bangladeshi government plans to publish a white paper reviewing irregularities in the Ministry of Education during the previous administration. The document will cover teacher recruitment issues, grade inflation, politically influenced school listings, and infrastructure spending concerns. Current initiatives include forming a committee to appoint university leaders to improve governance and transparency.

A former acting chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), i.e. the federal agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes and corruption, has called for anti-corruption education to be integrated into primary and secondary school curricula, emphasizing that fighting corruption requires collective effort, and collaboration with judiciary and professional bodies.

The Philippine Department of Education launched the Paaralang Bukas Dashboard, an open data portal providing public access to school-level information on performance, resources, and needs. Designed to enhance transparency and accountability, the initiative empowers parents, teachers, and local governments to monitor education investments and outcomes.