The Uganda government was last evening left searching for alternative sources of funding following the withdrawal of support to the education sector by one of its key donors. The Dutch government announced it was withdrawing funding to a tune of nearly Shs50b (14 million Euro), citing concerns over persistent corruption, poor public financial management and poor standards.

Kenya is no longer a country of focus for aid from Canada, the country's new High Commissioner has said, due to massive graft. He cited the scandal surrounding the Sh103 million embezzled from the Free Primary Education programme.

Nepal's Education Minister has been removed from his post amid allegations of corruption. The bribery allegations against the Minister led to international donors suspending millions of dollars in funding for schools. He denies accepting bribes from more than 1,000 teachers to secure them jobs in the schools of their choice.

The global financial crisis has catalyzed increasing transparency and accountability regarding public finances, say aid experts, which has helped open up disclosures on aid-giving.

A senior US official has called for independent verification of Afghan government figures on the use of US education aid following claims by Afghan ministers that the previous government had provided data on US-funded school and higher education projects that were flawed, tempered and exaggerated, and had interfered with university entrance exams. These allegations suggest the existence of ghost schools and teachers that are being paid for with US aid money.