In the media

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.

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Finance Minister has started a province-wide check to remove ghost workers from the Education Department. Nonexistent or former employees, including teachers who resigned, were dismissed, or died, are still receiving pay. This problem may be costing the department about 1 billion rand (approx. 57.31 million USD) every year, calling for urgent action.

South Africa’s Academy of Science has released a revised 2025 Code of Best Practice in Scholarly Journal Publishing, addressing AI misuse, peer-review ethics, open access, data transparency, and diversity. The code strengthens editorial independence, accountability, and integrity, aiming to curb predatory publishing, plagiarism, and unethical authorship. Stakeholders describe it as a blueprint for credibility and a safeguard for research trust.

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.

The Council on Higher Education (CHE) has released guidelines for public and private universities on awarding honorary doctorates and professorships. This move addresses concerns about the misuse and potential abuse of honorary titles, which can lead to public distrust and exploitation. CHE emphasizes the importance of rigorous background checks and thorough evaluation of recipients' track records. It also advocates for revoking honorary degrees from individuals found guilty of criminal or unethical conduct.

The UNDP and Saudi Arabia's Nazaha launched a global initiative to measure corruption during the 10th UN Convention Against Corruption session. Spanning 2023-2027, it aims to develop evidence-based indicators with a multi-stakeholder approach, supported by Saudi Arabia. The partnership seeks to track progress, offer policy recommendations, and assist countries in achieving anti-corruption goals linked to SDG 16. It addresses data gaps identified in the Global Progress Report on SDG 16.

The recent ETINED plenary in Paris gathered representatives from 35 European countries to discuss the significance of integrity in higher education. They emphasized the need for ethical principles, transparency, and integrity in education, alongside measures to counter education fraud. The platform shared good practices, including a recommendation on countering education fraud and a forthcoming publication on legal responses and case studies related to education fraud. Discussions covered AI's impact on education, student-centric approaches, and plans for an observatory to combat education fraud.

Integrity is not just a cornerstone of quality and equity in education; it is the foundation of a healthy, open society. School is typically the first place where children are exposed to diverse cultures and interact with public institutions. Addressing highly visible and criminal misconduct in education is a first step in establishing this trust. Merit-based, high-quality education is essential for Ukraine’s economic growth and social progress. Trust, openness, and transparency are the building blocks of a well-functioning education system and society. With these, Ukraine can achieve better outcomes from its education system, ensuring that human and financial resources are well used, that students have equal opportunities to learn, and that educational qualifications faithfully reflect students’ achievements.

A National Forum on the fight against corruption was organized in Tirana today bringing together cabinet ministers, international organizations, civil servants, civil society and media.The Government of Albania considers transparency and accountability, the cornerstone of the fight against corruption and it is committed to put its fight within the context of modernizing public services delivery.