Fake diplomas are becoming increasingly prevalent in Africa. To address this issue, governments are turning to digital solutions that offer effective and long-lasting solutions.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to launch a digital system to combat fake diplomas and certificates, education officials said on Thursday. National Education Minister Raissa Malu and Higher Education Minister Mukuna Marie Therese announced the initiative after a joint meeting. The system, called "Optsolution," will verify state diplomas and certificates in real time.

"Graduates applying to university will only need a 14-digit code. The Higher Education Ministry's system will then access the National Education database for applicant information," said Rodrigue Iyembo, a National Education Ministry expert.

DRC's system aims to cut verification times from 4-5 months to instant checks. Future plans include extending the platform to private sector diplomas.

The platform is part of DRC's National Digital Plan, aiming to digitize key sectors by 2025, with education as a priority.

This move comes as African countries struggle with a rise in fake diplomas. Ethiopia, after finding nearly 1,000 counterfeit certificates among 18,000 reviewed in 2023, contracted Swiss firm SICPA to certify diplomas using blockchain and QR codes.

Samira Njoya