In the media

Over 14,000 academic papers were retracted from English language journals in 2023, with three-quarters of which involved a Chinese co-author. As a result, the Chinese Ministry of Education is currently auditing the retracted research to determine how far academic fraud is widespread. The main issue stems from the fact that it is easy to pay for research to be written by ghostwriters and published in low-quality journals in China. Analysts argue that the political nature of research in China contributes to issues of academic integrity, as it prioritizes the quantity of published papers over their quality.

Over the past twelve years, Haiti’s education system has deteriorated, with growing inequalities in schools and the closure of many institutions. This decline has been attributed to systemic corruption and nepotism within the government. The Anti-Corruption Unit has finalized reports exposing the misappropriation of public funds, illicit enrichment, and money laundering, among other crimes. This article delves into the widespread corruption within the National Education Fund, which continues to jeopardize the education of three million Haitian schoolchildren.

A recent survey of 90,000 students revealed that 50% double-check that online education providers are approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This highlights growing concerns among prospective students about potential fraudulent practices, including payment security and degree validity. In response, the UGC has prohibited certain disciplines, such as law and engineering, from being offered online to uphold educational standards.

In Pakistan, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for a special audit of all educational boards across the province amid concerns over financial irregularities and corruption in the marking system. Reports have surfaced of students receiving high marks in exchange for money, contributing to a decline in educational quality. Meanwhile, the Sindh government has made intermediate education free, allocating ₹2 billion annually to cover examination fees.

To uphold integrity during exam season, the Rongo University has installed surveillance cameras in examination halls and increased the number of supervisors and invigilators. Additionally, the university has introduced anonymous reporting systems, allowing students and staff to report fraud through secure channels. These measures have significantly reduced cheating and reinforced the importance of academic integrity through strict enforcement of policies.

A ministerial committee has been appointed to investigate alleged regulatory violations in the awarding of state-funded national and international scholarships to Libyan students. The Administrative Control Authority has suspended the allocation of full state scholarships until all financial obligations to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research are settled. Meanwhile, the Higher Committee for Academic Scholarships will review past decisions to assess their compliance with legislation and monitor scholarship recipients.

The outgoing Prime Minister and Education Minister of Libya have been accused of corruption in the allocation of overseas study scholarships. Allegedly, scholarship decisions involved 6,000 undeserving students, many of whom were children of government officials and influential figures. Some names were reportedly added to lists of war-wounded and missing persons, highlighting the severity of the case. While the Education Minister has denied the accusations, the scandal has sparked public outrage over the misuse of national resources.

In Pakistan, the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) has accused the Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BBISE) of corrupt practices and exam result manipulation. The BBISE has allegedly been involved in bribery and political favoritism, leading to unfair exam outcomes and forged certificates. This case underscores how corruption within educational institutions can normalize unethical conduct. A BSAC representative has called for an immediate inquiry into the board and urgent reforms to hold those responsible accountable.

The UK government has proposed reforms to tighten rules on franchising arrangements and combat fraud in the student finance system to safeguard public funds better. In 2022/23, fraud in student finance cost taxpayers £2 million. Franchising allows universities to subcontract courses to external providers, improving access to higher education. However, currently, more than half of the 341 franchised institutions are unregistered with the Office for Students, meaning they operate without regulation. The government aims to ensure these courses meet quality standards to remain eligible for student finance.

A Corruption Risk Assessment report conducted in six districts within the education sector has recommended the full decentralization of the payroll management system to reduce corruption risks. The report suggests that decentralization would ensure that validation and enlistment in the Ghana Education Service (GES) begin and end at the district level. Findings indicate that newly recruited teachers have been paying bribes to fast-track their payroll processing or issuing duty letters with incorrect dates.