Tunisia has officially launched a blockchain-powered system to verify educational credentials, aiming to combat fake diplomas and enhance trust in academic qualifications. The country joins a growing number of Arab nations utilizing blockchain to fight credential fraud and streamline verification processes.
A New Era for Diploma Verification
The Tunisian government has integrated into the Unified Arab System for Diploma Authenticity Verification, following a successful pilot program with three local universities. This initiative, led by the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), was first proposed in 2021 as part of a regional plan to improve education standards by 2030.
Blockchain technology ensures that each diploma is stored as a unique, tamper-proof record on a distributed ledger, enabling institutions, employers, and government bodies to verify credentials instantly, eliminating slow, manual processes. The immutability of the system prevents records from being altered, forged, or deleted, offering a strong solution against widespread diploma fraud.
A Response to Widespread Diploma Fraud
Before the blockchain system, diploma verification in Tunisia was slow and opaque, opening the door for individuals to secure jobs with fake degrees. A 2023 study by the Tunisian Association for the Fight Against Corruption revealed that nearly 200,000 civil servants had used fraudulent credentials between 2011 and 2021, making up a significant portion of the workforce.
Neighboring countries such as Libya, Algeria, and Egypt have also implemented the blockchain-based system to protect universities, employers, and graduates from degree fraud. Libya, which joined in 2024, emphasized the system’s importance in streamlining certification issuance, especially in emergencies like war, political instability, and health crises.
Calls for Expansion Across Africa
Although the system currently serves the Arab world, experts are calling for its expansion across Africa to improve cross-border employment and boost transparency in academic credentials. Samir Khalaf Abd-El-Aal, a researcher at Egypt’s National Research Center, has advocated for continent-wide adoption to make credential verification more efficient.
Fake diplomas are a significant concern in Africa, with numerous professionals holding high-ranking positions using fraudulent credentials. Some governments have already taken drastic actions, such as Nigeria, which no longer recognizes degrees from Kenya, Uganda, Togo, or Benin due to widespread fraud.
Tunisia’s implementation of blockchain-based diploma verification marks a significant step in addressing these issues, potentially setting a global standard for safeguarding academic integrity and improving employment practices.
