Tunisia Tackles Fake Diplomas with Blockchain-Based Verification

Tunisia has officially implemented a blockchain-powered system to verify educational credentials, aiming to eliminate fake diplomas and enhance trust in academic qualifications. The country joins a growing number of Arab nations leveraging blockchain to combat credential fraud and streamline verification processes.

A New Era for Diploma Verification

The Tunisian government announced its integration into the Unified Arab System for Diploma Authenticity Verification, following a successful pilot program involving three local universities. This initiative, spearheaded by the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), was first proposed in 2021 as part of a regional roadmap to improve education standards by 2030.

Blockchain technology ensures that each diploma is stored as a unique, tamper-proof record on a distributed ledger. This allows institutions, employers, and government bodies to instantly verify credentials without relying on slow, manual processes. The system’s immutability prevents records from being altered, forged, or deleted, making it a robust solution against widespread fraud.

A Response to Widespread Diploma Fraud

Before blockchain adoption, diploma verification in Tunisia was a tedious and opaque process. This created opportunities for individuals to secure jobs with fake degrees. A 2023 study by the Tunisian Association for the Fight Against Corruption uncovered that nearly 200,000 civil servants had used fraudulent credentials between 2011 and 2021—representing a significant portion of the country’s workforce.

Neighboring countries, including Libya, Algeria, and Egypt, have also implemented the blockchain system to protect universities, employers, and graduates from degree fraud. Libya, which joined early last year, highlighted its importance in streamlining certification issuance, especially during emergencies like war, political instability, and health crises.

Calls for Expansion Across Africa

While this system currently serves the Arab world, experts are pushing for its expansion across Africa to facilitate cross-border employment and enhance transparency in academic credentials. Samir Khalaf Abd-El-Aal, a researcher from Egypt’s National Research Center, has emphasized the need for a continent-wide adoption to make verification easier and more efficient.

Fake diplomas are a major concern in Africa, with multiple professionals reaching high-ranking positions using fraudulent credentials. Some governments have already taken drastic measures—Nigeria, for example, no longer recognizes degrees from Kenya, Uganda, Togo, or Benin due to rampant fraud.

Tunisia’s blockchain-based verification system represents a significant step forward in tackling this issue, potentially setting a precedent for other nations looking to safeguard academic integrity and employment standards.