Over 300 fake academic degrees under investigation in Paraguay's Education Ministry

Paraguay's Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) has escalated an investigation into fraudulent academic credentials, with prosecutors now examining over 300 fake degrees. This number more than doubles the initial report, suggesting a potentially massive network of apocryphal documents within the educational ministry.

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The Fiscalía already investigates more than 300 fake titles in the MEC, doubling the initial complaint. They estimate that the network of apocryphal documents in the educational portfolio could be massive.

The Fiscalía, or public prosecutor's office, initially received 145 cases of fake titles from the MEC on June 15, requesting criminal investigations. At that time, the ministry had already flagged at least 550 additional diplomas under scrutiny. Prosecutor Teresa Sosa Laconich confirmed that the investigation now encompasses more than 300 non-authentic university documents.

Evidence indicates that some ministry officials have allegedly secured positions and inflated salaries, reportedly earning over five minimum wages monthly, by presenting these falsified qualifications. "An investigating prosecutor can obtain extra remuneration or, what are called bonuses, for specializations, master's degrees, or doctorates, and that is what they also do at the MEC," Sosa explained. These inflated salaries, including bonuses for purported advanced degrees, could exceed 15 million Paraguayan guaraníes per month.

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Currently, we have more than 300 cases that we are investigating, following the initial 145. All are being forwarded by the Legal Advisory of the MEC.

Sosa stated that following the MEC's June complaint, the investigation has expanded significantly. The prosecutor's office plans to meet with the Minister of Education, Luis Ramírez, and the MEC's technical team to further streamline their investigative efforts. "We want to understand this issue better, in order to facilitate and speed up our investigative work. So that the reports are precise and thus advance on this matter," Sosa added.

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We want to understand this issue better, in order to facilitate and speed up our investigative work. So that the reports are precise and thus advance on this matter.

Notably, about 90% of the dubious diplomas feature the logo of the Universidad Autónoma de Asunción (UAA). However, representatives from the UAA assert that signatures and seals were likely altered, indicating that third parties may have irregularly used the institution's letterhead. In a separate criminal case initiated in 2024, also stemming from an MEC complaint, Sosa reported 14 teachers have been indicted. Earlier in June, Sosa had indicated that preliminary findings suggested as many as 1,500 fake degrees might exist solely within the education sciences department.

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90% of the diplomas have the logo of the Universidad Autónoma de Asunción (UAA), but from the institution they indicated that the signatures and seals were altered, that is, third parties would have used the entity's letterhead irregularly.