Search Page

A new approach in development aid could be fuelling corruption. Western countries are testing the "budget support model", whereby funds are given directly to the government in order to reduce poverty. A report claims that up to June 2002, government expenditure was not supported by the correct documentation.

People in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have been found buying fake degrees of all sorts from diploma mills and other bogus universities. Those universities have no physical existence and operate only through websites. Most diploma mills are operating from Britain or United States where academic standards are presumed to be very high. Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigations compiled a list of over 10,000 persons who obtained fake degrees from diploma mills in USA. A significant number of them are from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. Currently, there are about 80 notorious diploma mills that operate from the United States and the UK.

The government has launched an education plan that will see corruption becoming a subject in primary and secondary schools as well as in teacher training college syllabuses in the country.

Universities in two East African countries, Kenya and Tanzania, have come under fire for prolifically awarding honorary degrees – in some cases allegedly for money and in others in return for influence.

Corruption threatens good governance, sustainable development, democratic process and fair business environment. Young Citizen reporter caught students from Mapambano Tuition Center expressing their views in a debate whose motion is: teaching corruption subject from primary school level will help to eradicate corruption.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued a stern warning to members of public against processing and use of fake academic transcripts or identification. Closing the initial training for Police and Immigration trainees at Tanzania Police College here on Friday, the Inspector said the untoward conduct is taking shape in some sections of the society, within and outside education institutions and it must be stopped.

The Tanzanian government has disbanded the Education Materials Approval Committee (EMAC) due to poor performance and corruption. A government representative stated that the EMAC will be replaced with "another strong organ", and the government will review all education materials approved by the EMAC.

Rorya District Executive Director (DED), has underscored the need for various schools in the country to acquire some skills on the recently introduced Procurement ACT to enable them follow thoroughly the procurement procedures and avert public funds embezzlement. The call was echoed by the DED in a full council meeting whereby the session was informed that over 100m/- allocated to Buturi Secondary School had been embezzled and so far no arrest had been made.

Tanzania is preparing an Open Data Policy that will guide the country on how to obtain and use data, according to the President. The policy, which is expected to be in place in six months, will develop procedures to identify the government's open data, an institutional framework for open data management, a single window and where the public can access data. Procedures for uploading and updating data will also be defined.