In the media

The Department of Education (DepEd), in its continued efforts to promote better transparency in the education sector, rolled out its open data initiative named Project Bukas that discloses datasets on assessment results and school characteristics. Representatives from the public and private sectors and civil society conveyed their support for Project Bukas, highlighting the value of accessible data in better understanding assessment data and informing educational policies and reforms.

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 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Moldova’s National Anticorruption Center hosted the “Anti-Corruption Café,” engaging officials and 45 young volunteers to discuss fighting corruption in the education sector. A “Pro-Integrity Test” reinforced awareness, supporting broader efforts to strengthen integrity and accountability in education.

Recurring exam scandals in Senegal, including leaks of confidential test papers, have prompted parents and civil society to call for a deep reform of the education system. Experts cite corruption, weak digital security, and social pressures, recommending changes in curricula, ethics education, and legal enforcement.

Hundreds of Maharashtra education officials staged protests after 17 officers were arrested in the Shalarth ID fraud, where fake digital identifiers for teachers were allegedly used to embezzle funds. Unions demand fair investigations and threaten indefinite strike, raising risks of major disruption in India’s school payroll system.

Anti-corruption policies strengthen the capacities to respond to current challenges in democracies. In this regard, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention has been a strategic cornerstone in fighting against corruption globally in the past 25 years. OECD is fostering international cooperation to overcome corruption with the participation of global civil society.

The Hanoi University of Science and Technology has introduced comprehensive regulations on academic integrity. These regulations apply to all members of the university community, including officials, civil servants, lecturers, and students. Decision 12160/QD-DHBK emphasizes the importance of respecting others' ideas, avoiding plagiarism, and adhering to ethical standards in scientific research. It prohibits the buying and selling of research results and prohibits the misuse of power or resources to gain unfair advantages in research endeavors. The university also enforces integrity standards in research and training collaborations, ensuring compliance with intellectual property rights agreements. A Scientific Integrity Advisory Council has been established to assess violations, with disciplinary actions ranging from internal sanctions to legal consequences depending on the severity of the offense.

The conviction of an executive from an unregistered university marks a significant step in Malawi's efforts to combat illegal higher education institutions. The official operating unregistered universities was fined and faces imprisonment for offering fake qualifications. While civil society organizations advocate for more arrests and consequences for employers recognizing qualifications from such institutions, the conviction underscores the importance of regulatory enforcement to maintain educational integrity. Calls for a National Qualification Authority Bill aim to strengthen regulatory frameworks, yet progress remains uncertain.

Zero Corruption Campaign (ZCC), a civil society organisation that focuses on promoting integrity, accountability, and transparency in the services of public sector institutions, has warned the country’s school authorities to stop collecting money as additional fees for students pursuing their education in 2022/2023. The ZCC said such practices were tantamount to corruption and a deliberate attempt to undermine quality free school education.

A recent study shows that nepotism, materialistic employees, and lack of resources are some of the challenges that hinder the promotion of a culture of integrity in Jordanian universities. Faculty members could play a very important role in addressing these problems by providing courses that promote transparency, justice, accountability, and equality among individuals in society. The Anti-Corruption Commission launched initiatives in 2019 to encourage family-community partnerships improve the educational process.