In the media

The principal of Educrest International School in Gurugram, India, has been arrested for allegedly running a fraud by falsely claiming Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliation. The school is accused of admitting students without proper recognition, collecting fees under false claims, and compromising the academic future of at least 25 students.

Uzbekistan’s Anti-Corruption Agency reported 5,222 corruption-related crimes in 2025, an 8.6% decrease from 5,716 cases in 2024. The healthcare, preschool and secondary education sectors, and local governments had the most offences, with over 300 cases linked to local administrations, mostly involving mayoral assistants. 192 public procurement contracts worth UZS 673.3 billion led to administrative and disciplinary actions. In 2026, authorities are introducing a new anti-corruption system and aim to fully digitize the process to eliminate the human factor.

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.

Hong Kong universities face a growing challenge of admissions fraud, with police receiving 126 reports of allegedly fraudulent academic qualifications in just the first seven months of 2025. Universities reported rejecting several hundred applications suspected of falsified credentials. Authorities are introducing AI-assisted verification, rigorous checks, and anti-fraud training to safeguard higher education integrity.

An Australian university accused nearly 6,000 students of academic misconduct in 2024, mostly for alleged unauthorized use of artificial intelligence in assignments. About one-quarter of referrals were dismissed, with some students waiting months for clearance. The university has since introduced training on ethical AI use for staff and students.

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.

Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) will award around 50,000 engineering and management degrees using blockchain technology. The system enhances security, prevents fraud, and streamlines degree issuance, supporting institutional credibility and student trust, and allows secure access to print, and validate degrees.

Delhi’s new 2025 School Education Bill regulates private school fees to prevent arbitrary hikes, ensure accountability, and protect parents. The law grants education authorities powers to freeze accounts or seize property of non-compliant schools. Nearly 300 schools receiving land at concessional rates will also be covered, addressing transparency, governance, and corruption concerns.

Eight publicly funded Hong Kong universities have signed three-year accountability agreements with the government, increasing oversight of budgets and university operations. Experts warn that, while the agreements aim to improve transparency and performance indicators, they may also reduce university autonomy by pressuring institutions to align with government priorities.

The Central Bureau of Investigation of India uncovered a massive medical education scam involving 34 accused individuals – among them senior health officials and private college leaders – affecting over 40 institutions nationwide. Eight people have been arrested so far, including three doctors, linked to bribes totaling at least 5.5 million rupees (approx. 65,000 USD). The scam involved bribery, forgery, fake faculty, and manipulated inspections.