In the media

Senators urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to closely monitor diploma mills offering unaccredited graduate programs after around 100 teachers in Palawan reportedly paid for online courses that were later not recognized. The school involved allegedly offered an unauthorized extension program and is now under investigation. Officials encouraged teachers to verify programs through the Philippine Teacher Education Registry (PhilTER) database, while CHED also acknowledged staffing shortages in regional offices that make monitoring difficult.

The Department of Education (DepEd) of the Philippines has partnered with Open Ownership to strengthen transparency and integrity in education procurement. DepEd manages the country’s largest education budget, making procurement a high-risk area for corruption. The initiative pilots the use of beneficial ownership data to identify hidden conflicts of interest, bid rotation, market concentration and undisclosed links among suppliers. The agreement includes technical assistance and contract analysis to reduce irregularities and aligns with the New Government Procurement Act.

The Benue State Education Quality Assurance Board (BEQAEB) rejected claims of fraud, stating that all regulatory actions are backed by law. Its Executive Secretary emphasized efforts to strengthen school monitoring, accreditation, and enforcement. The state enabled major investments in education, including new school buildings, renovations, and the recruitment of over 9,000 teachers, with the sector receiving over 15% of the 2025 budget and 25.29% in 2026. Scepticism emerges from exorbitant charges by certain schools to the BEQAEB.

A new Transparency International policy brief warns that corruption in African education systems disproportionately harms women, girls, marginalised groups and learners with disabilities. Bribery, sextortion, payroll fraud and mismanagement of resources remain widespread at the service delivery level. Country findings show high bribery in school admissions in the DRC (56%) and Zimbabwe (72%), payroll fraud in Ghana, exclusion of disabled learners in Madagascar, and integrity risks in Rwanda’s grading and school programmes. Weak oversight and accountability mechanisms are identified as key drivers of persistent corruption.

An ABC investigation revealed large‑scale financial aid fraud in which scammers used stolen identities to enrol as “ghost students”. Once registered, they applied for grants and loans and vanished with the funds, leaving victims unknowingly burdened with debt. Officials report over 200 active investigations, with AI‑generated applications worsening the problem. Community colleges remain key targets due to open‑enrolment processes. In California alone, nearly a third of community college applicants in 2024 were flagged as fraudulent.

The Economic Freedom Fighters Youth Command in South Africa opened a criminal case against individuals accused of running a syndicate that sells university and TVET college placements. A spokesperson claims that students were charged between R3,000 and R4,000 for admission, accommodation and bursaries, facilitated through WhatsApp groups and apparent internal contacts. Various institutions across South Africa are alleged to be involved in the actions. Evidence submitted to police includes messages, payment records and testimonies from victims.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in South Africa has recovered more than R1.7 billion in unallocated or improperly retained NSFAS funds from universities, TVET colleges, and unqualified beneficiaries. The funds relate to amounts held from 2016 to 2021 that institutions failed to refund after students deregistered or transferred. Weak NSFAS control and reconciliation systems during those years contributed to the accumulation of unreturned funds.