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The Higher Education Ministry of Oman has banned four Malaysian universities due to alleged academic and administrative abuses by the varsities. In total, there are 378 Omani students enrolled in the four universities. The Times of Oman, in its report, stated that the Committee for the Recognition of Non-Omani Higher Education Institutions and the Equivalence of Educational Qualifications in the Oman Higher Education Ministry had issued a decision to stop dealing with these universities. It said Omani students were not allowed to attend the educational institutions following the decision. Representatives from one of the universities claim that the Ministry’s action is ‘unwarranted’.

An official report has disclosed the spread of financial and administrative corruption in Ministry of Education. The report contains the response provided by the Minister of Education at the request of His Highness the Premier Sheikh to the questions presented by lawmakers about the measures taken by Ministry to deal with corruption cases. He explained in the report that a huge number of cases related to forging of educational certificates and misappropriation of public funds have been referred to the Public Prosecution.

The national education minister has stated that a number of measures will be put in place in order to fight fraud during the next baccalaureate test cycle, including securing the online site of the National Examinations and Competitive Examination Office (ONEC), and preparing back-up questions. The minister emphasised the need to implement technical measures in order to adapt to developments in information technology and communication and respond to the challenges that arise as a result.

Plagiarism has been taboo for some and an open secret for others in Algeria, but is today a scandal that no one can deny – even though Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research officials are trying to minimise the problem. Some flagrant examples of plagiarism have emerged into the public sphere, and they appear to be the tip of the iceberg. The ministry of higher education and scientific research, has adopted series of measures to curb this phenomenon, including instructing all universities to set up databases on their websites in which all works and theses produced by students, lecturers and researchers are reported.

The online disclosure of college admittance high-school exams has led to nationwide disruptions in Egypt and Algeria. Despite vows by authorities to make sure tests are secure, exam questions have been leaked prior to exam administration in both countries for several years. An October decree by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called for prison sentences for unauthorized disclosure of testing materials. But that decrees has failed to deter a cluster of Facebook groups that have leaked exam questions.

In Algers on Sunday, the prime minister reiterated the government’s willingness to fight against fraud in the education sector, following the leaking of the 2016 baccalaureate exam questions, and called on Algeria’s citizens to join the fight against such behaviours. “The recent Fraud experienced in the education and knowledge sector is inacceptable and the government is determined to fight it to its fullest extent” declared the Prime Minister. “When this level of knowledge is targeted, it becomes a matter of national security.”

The national education ministry announced on Wednesday that an inquiry had been launched following social media reports that test questions may have been leaked, in order to identify and prosecute any individuals who may be implicated. The ministry reassured test candidates that that the exam would proceed as expected. The ministry added that it is “committed to guaranteeing candidates their right to equal opportunities” and wished them “success for the rests of their exams.”

Kuwait has started taking procedures to determine reasons behind the spread of fake university certificates and also to find ways to prevent the use of such certificates in the future. A report published by Al-Fanar Media on its website recently said this came after the Ministry of Higher Education in Kuwait referred 259 people found to be holding fake degrees to the court.

The national education minister announced in Alger on Wednesday that a joint commission would be set up to follow up on the application of the code of ethics signed at the end of November 2015 by the ministry and union representatives from the sector. The implementation of this commission, which counts among its member representatives from the ministry, unions and parent teacher associates, aims to follow up on the effective application on the ground of the different clauses of the code. The commission will be tasked with finding the mechanisms which will “make this code effective, in particular at the local level”.