Another fake degree scandal

The recent discovery that ten employees at Dow University of Health Sciences secured their positions with fake academic credentials is the latest example of the deep-seated disease of falsified qualifications in the country's job market. But there are few places where the problem is more impactful than within the education sector, especially higher education. This is because while an unqualified employee in one company would only be a potential liability for their employer, an unqualified educator can damage the futures of hundreds of students within just a semester.

Then there is the massive cost to the government, as billions are spent on salaries and perks for fraudsters. The Dow case also shows how widespread the problem potentially is, as only 450 of the 3,500 staff have had their credentials verified, according to reports. The Sindh Public Accounts Committee's order for province-wide degree verification within three months is therefore not merely administrative but a critical rescue mission for academic integrity.

It is also highly concerning that such reviews need to be ordered at regular intervals. From the massive Axact fake degree scandal of 2015 to the FIA's bust of a sophisticated "documents mill" forging Karachi University and HEC stamps last year, the ecosystem for fraud is well-established. All taxpayer-funded jobs should require verification to ensure meritocracy, and it is a galling fact that legislation to support this is not already in force.

We should also note that everyone involved in such practices deserves serious punishment, as showing unscrupulous elements any leniency creates an environment where other misconduct, like the plagiarism scandal previously witnessed at Karachi University, can fester. Unfortunately, the Sindh government has already shown that elevating standards in higher education is not a priority. We are barely a year removed from the provincial government literally dropping standards for VCs while the recurrence of various scams is proof that concern lasts only as long as the issue remains in the news cycle.