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.

The Delhi government has launched the School Web App, a unified digital platform for students, parents, and teachers that aims to centralize school services like timetables, homework, attendance, performance tracking, and parent-teacher communication. In line with the goals of Digital India and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, proponents argue that the education system will become more transparent, accessible and accountable by reducing paperwork.

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.

The Ondo State Government praised the Federal Government’s launch of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), calling it a landmark reform against certificate racketeering and academic fraud. NERD digitizes Nigeria’s academic output and standardized credential verification. It also introduces the National Publication Index to enhance academic integrity, and indigenous knowledge governance.

A new survey by Transparency International (TI) Initiative in Madagascar reveals widespread corruption in education. 40% of nearly 5,000 respondents reported being victims of corruption in schools, while 81% said they knew of such cases, including diploma buying, exam leaks, and sexual favors for grades. TI warns these practices undermine equal access to education and trust in the system.

A withdrawal of statistics on exam adjustments by England’s exam regulator reveals that previously published figures overstated the number of students receiving extra time. The revision underscores the need for transparency and precise data management to inform public debate, especially on support for students with special educational needs.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a blockchain-based platform to verify academic degrees, aiming to curb widespread diploma fraud. The move follows a 2023 audit that found nearly one in three diplomas submitted for verification was either fraudulent or unverifiable. Developed in partnership with TindaTech, the system enables universities to issue tamper-proof credentials, helping restore trust in education and promote transparency nationwide.

A teachers’ group urged the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines to investigate an alleged “item-for-sale” scheme where public school teaching posts are reportedly sold for cash. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition condemned the practice, calling it a matter of justice and fairness, and pledged cooperation with DepEd to expose and eliminate corruption in the teacher hiring process.

The Thai government has suspended two major cloud and IT procurement projects worth over 41 billion Baht (approx. 1.1 billion USD) for the Ministries of Education and Higher Education due to concerns over unfair tender processes and potential corruption. Triggered by a complaint from the Anti-Corruption Network Foundation, the suspension targets projects with allegedly restrictive specifications that may favor a single vendor and breach the government's “Cloud-First Policy”.

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UP) Board is enhancing efforts against age fraud in High School exams, especially in sports. It plans stronger safeguards, integrating Aadhaar and a 12-digit unique student identifier (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry - APAAR), part of the National Education Policy 2020's 'One Nation, One Student ID' initiative. This aims to secure registration, ensure data authenticity, and minimize fraud.