In the media

In Albania, citizens are frequently asked to pay a bribe when using basic public services. As revealed by Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index surveys, the sectors most vulnerable to corruption, according to Albanian respondents, include politics (92%), the judiciary (81%), healthcare (80%), education (70%), police (58%), and civil services (52%). To combat this, Albania has launched Spak, a specialized anti-corruption body made up of a prosecution office, a national investigation bureau, and special courts.

Sindh Education Department has launched an investigation after a primary school teacher in Pakistan was granted maternity leave three times in a single year. Corruption and negligence in the Government education sector are widespread in Sindh with many cases of ghost schools and teachers. A video revealed a state primary school in Mirpurkhas only existed on paper. Salaries were disbursed monthly to fictitious faculty, while the school grounds housed animals.

The University of South Africa (UNISA) underwent a quality audit by the Council on Higher Education (CHE), which raised concerns about ambiguous roles between the Senate and Council, potentially infringing on academic authority. The audit highlighted governance issues, late registrations impacting student success, and communication gaps with students. UNISA has submitted an improvement plan to address these concerns and awaits feedback from the CHE.

A study reveals that a significant number of UK universities continue to accept millions in cash for tuition and accommodation payments, making them vulnerable to money laundering risks. Around 22 universities still accepted cash payments, with the total reaching £12m in 2019-20. The research highlights concern about anti-money-laundering guidelines not being strictly followed and universities not reporting suspicious activity, potentially endangering staff and students. The study calls for stricter legislation to address these vulnerabilities.

The government in Bangladesh is working on a new law to tighten regulations for private universities, aiming to enhance transparency and governance. The proposed amendments include a requirement for one-third of board trustees to be academics, restrictions on trustees' benefits, and empowering authorities to appoint observers at universities facing disruptions. The draft law also introduces quality assurance cells to maintain education standards, emphasizing the need for better governance amid concerns over corruption and irregularities in private higher education.

The Libyan Attorney General's office has ordered the arrest of officials from the Ministry of Higher Education’s scholarships office in Türkiye, accused of misappropriating scholarships worth about €14 million (US$15 million) for Libyan students. The investigation revealed irregularities impacting 757 students studying in Türkiye due to violations such as delays in studies, exceeding degree time limits, and awarding grants to officials' children who already received education benefits. The Prime Minister suspended scholarships abroad and removed the Minister's authority over scholarship approvals.

According to the UNDP, corruption costs the world roughly $2.6 trillion annually. The Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime acknowledged that current methodologies to measure corruption are often unclear, with questions around the accuracy and reliability of available numbers and statistics. Estimates are based on limited indicators, while some frameworks prioritize narrow groups of stakeholders and their perceptions. UNODC is developing a comprehensive statistical framework to enhance accurate corruption measurement, supporting countries worldwide with capacity-building and technical guidance to combat corruption.

A new study highlights the necessity of training Research Ethics Committees (RECs) in Sub-Saharan Africa to manage the ethical and legal complexities inherent in data-intense research, particularly concerning data protection and sharing. Findings reveal a lack of awareness among REC members regarding existing laws at the national level, possibly resulting in research data crossing borders without appropriate agreements or permits. Establishing transparent and standardized data governance could foster shared ethical values and ensure responsible big data research practices across the subcontinent.

Students protested in front of the Mauritanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for concerns over transparency in awarding foreign scholarships. A wide range of medical and baccalaureate students were excluded while 90 out of 200 scholarships offered by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation have been retained. The lack of transparency in scholarship distribution aligns with broader corruption problems seen in African higher education systems, including nepotism and favoritism.

Two teachers were arrested for allegedly engaging in examination malpractices during the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at Dunkwa Secondary Technical Centre in Ghana's Central Region. The suspects, tutors at different schools, were caught attempting to smuggle answered exam questions into the hall. Police recovered two mobile phones and answered papers from them. Last year, 12 individuals were arrested at two examination centers for similar malpractices.