Fake Degrees, Real Damage

Aug 18 , 2024
By Eden Sahle

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A business owner recently shared a story about an employee with impressive academic credentials and experience on paper, yet who struggled to apply any of them in practice.

The hiring team had been excited about this recruit, who stood out among many qualified but inexperienced applicants. The employee's academic achievements and background initially impressed everyone. However, as time passed, it became clear that his skills did not match his resume. Frustrated and puzzled, they were forced to end the contract after a while.

We discussed the broader issue of declining educational quality in the country. The employer's description of a lack of knowledge in his legal field seemed almost unbelievable.

Curious, I checked the employee's LinkedIn profile, and to my surprise, discovered that he was a former neighbour I had known since childhood. His profile boasted multiple degrees from Addis Abeba University Law School, the same institution I attended. The experience listed seemed tailor-made to attract employers. But this man, who was 17 years older than me, was not a lawyer—he was a high school dropout. The last I knew of him, just a year ago, he had no formal education beyond that.

I had always known him as someone close to my family. He had practically raised me, and I had no idea he was capable of such deception. His family had moved abroad, but he stayed in Addis Abeba, keeping much about his life private. He usually asked me about the country's laws and showed a keen interest in legal matters, which brought us closer, especially after I graduated.

He even attended my wedding. Although I could not attend his recent wedding due to the birth of my child, I was shocked to learn that his wife knew him as a lawyer, not the high school dropout I knew him to be. The situation reminded me of the Netflix series “Suits,” except that he lacked the legal skills of the character in the show. After I confronted him about what I had learned, he immediately cut off all contact, removing me from his social media and distancing himself from my family.

This is not an isolated case. Fake academic credentials are a global issue, and Ethiopia is not immune. Academic certificate fabrication is a serious and ongoing problem, affecting both the public and private sectors. It is not only a reputational risk for institutions; but a substantial loss for a country in desperate need of skilled professionals. The societal and economic impacts are severe.

In my legal practice, I have encountered several cases where individuals falsified academic documents to work in critical fields like medicine and pharmaceuticals. These fraudsters operated for years, only being caught after making fatal errors. The full extent of the damage they caused can never be known.

The persistence of certificate forgery is exacerbated by a lack of digital systems that allow employers to verify academic credentials easily. Many academic institutions do not prioritise protecting their reputations, and corruption further fuels the problem. Without an efficient system for verifying documents, employers are discouraged from thoroughly checking academic qualifications.

Meanwhile, the sophistication of fraudulent documents makes it difficult for even regulatory bodies to distinguish them from authentic ones. This has led to widespread fraud, particularly in public institutions, where many individuals have been caught with fake credentials, though many more are likely operating undetected.

Experts agree that academic fraud has existed as long as education itself, but the problem has worsened in recent years. The growing prevalence of academic fraud poses a serious threat to society and economic growth. In a world driven by technology and innovation, having qualified professionals is crucial. Allowing unqualified individuals to occupy roles in both public and private sectors can lead to a failed job market and economy.

Academic fraud has far-reaching negative impacts, depriving skilled workers of opportunities and robbing the country of honesty, fairness, and accountability. These fraudulent individuals extend their criminal behaviour beyond fake documents, contributing to more corruption and incompetence.

Addressing it requires institutions to establish efficient systems for credential verification. Developing a robust digital system to verify graduates' details would encourage employers to validate documents and help combat academic fraud.

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PUBLISHED ON Aug 18,2024 [ VOL 25 , NO 1268]

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