"Ghost" Institute Flooded Ministry with Fake Degrees

An investigation has revealed that dozens of people in Paraguay may have secured teaching positions and related benefits using fraudulent diplomas from an institute that, according to the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC), does not legally exist. The institution in question, the "Virgen de Fátima" Teacher Training Institute (IFD), is reportedly based in Lambaré, though no specific address is listed in the case files.

According to expediente administrative N° 119.213/24, at least 18 teachers used diplomas issued by the "Virgen de Fátima" IFD to enroll in the public school system. Other case files indicate similar findings for an additional six individuals. In the remaining cases, educators allegedly used fake diplomas from the same institute, though they might have also used documents from other institutions to gain enrollment.

The MEC has submitted a series of case files to the Public Prosecutor's Office, detailing how these individuals allegedly used non-authentic certificates to gain teaching credentials and become part of the MEC system. The alleged fraud spans various educational levels, including early childhood education, primary school, and university-level teaching.

While some of the investigated individuals may no longer be employed by the National Teaching Staff, authorities have not ruled out the possibility that they are still teaching in the private sector. The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the scheme and hold those responsible accountable.