In the media

Moldova will introduce a national anti-plagiarism system to check all bachelor’s and master’s theses starting this year, following an investigation into the buying and selling of academic papers. The Ministry of Education launched internal reviews, involved law enforcement, and called for parliamentary hearings with multiple state institutions to address academic fraud. Officials describe plagiarism as a serious issue undermining higher education and plan stricter laws, including possible annulment of fraudulent diplomas.

The government in Bangladesh will investigate widespread irregularities and corruption in the education sector from 2008 to 2025 and may publish a white paper based on the findings. Inspections have already revealed major issues, with action taken against 330 college-level lecturers, including dismissals and salary suspensions for using fake certificates.

Ghana is preparing to recruit 1,200 new university lecturers and 7,000 teachers to address staffing shortages, but the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission now requires all applicants to have their qualifications verified to prevent the use of fake degrees. This follows growing concerns about fraudulent and unaccredited certificates, which threaten education quality and credibility. UTAG stresses the need for stronger enforcement and legal action against academic fraud.

Mauritania is planning to digitize its national exams and competitive entrance tests to improve transparency, fairness, and reliability. The initiative, led by the Education and Digital Transformation ministries, will introduce digital tools across the exam process, from setting papers to grading, to reduce errors and increase traceability. A phased rollout with testing stages has been agreed to ensure system stability before large-scale use.

The Indian state of Kerala has seen a rapid expansion of crèches, preschools and day care centres, but the sector operates in a regulatory grey zone with no binding framework to ensure standards or safety. A legislative report flagged significant oversight gaps, warning that the lack of monitoring, formal complaint channels and licensing poses risks to children. The committee urged the state to adopt the National ECCE Policy, establish monitoring bodies, introduce formal registration mechanisms and set clear operating and infrastructure regulations.

Academic integrity becomes a mandatory criterion in the evaluation of educational institutions in Moldova. The new regulations impose the establishment of strict policies against plagiarism and academic fraud. The measures apply to all study programs within the institutions of technical vocational education, higher education, and adult education to meet accreditation standards. They include mechanisms for prevention, identification, and sanctioning of deviations, as well as information and training programs for pupils, students, trainees, and teaching staff.

Delhi Chief Minister launched the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and mobile app to improve public services and transparency. Citizens can now register and track complaints related to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi Police on a single platform. The Government also launched secure digital platforms, including e-District services and a new digital platform to support disadvantaged groups with fair access to free private education.

The Kenyan government ordered an audit of 790 public secondary schools as part of the 2024/2025 financial review to enhance transparency in the education sector. The audit will examine financial management systems and procurement, with officials required to provide relevant documentation. Authorities aim to strengthen internal controls, ensure compliance with financial rules and safeguard public funds.

The Zimbabwean Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education warned that teachers who charge students for extra lessons face disciplinary consequences, as they are already paid by the Government to teach. He urged parents to report such practices through official complaint channels, starting with the class teacher, then the school head, district, provincial offices, and finally the ministry’s head office or courts. He also condemned schools forcing parents to buy uniforms from them, calling the practice illegal.

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.