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.

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.

In Nigeria, the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board launched an Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to strengthen integrity in basic education management. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission officials emphasized that the unit should act as a supportive mechanism, not an adversarial body. ACTU’s responsibilities include reviewing processes, conducting staff sensitisation, enforcing ethical standards, and conducting preliminary investigations.

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.

The Federal Government has unveiled a landmark initiative aimed at entrenching transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s tertiary education system with the official launch of the Federal Government Tertiary Institution Governance and Transparency Platform (FTIGTP). The initiative will serve as a unified digital platform providing real-time access to accurate data and financial information across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The platform aims not only to strengthen public confidence but also improve efficiency in the management of educational resources and foster innovation.

A technical review of Ghana’s computerized school placement system is underway as the Ministry of Education seeks to boost transparency, fairness, and efficiency in senior high school admissions. The review, led by a team of education managers, ICT experts, and student and parent representatives, aims to modernize the system and restore public confidence in one of the country’s key education gateways.

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.

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.