It’s a familiar story: a dedicated government employee — maybe a teacher, a clerk, or a manager — wants to step up in their career. They need a master’s degree to qualify for a promotion, get a salary increase, and secure a better future for their family. This noble ambition often leads them to seek out schools offering “quickie” graduate programs that promise a diploma in record time and with minimal effort.

This is where the nightmare begins.

The Philippines is currently grappling with a widespread, insidious issue: graduate-level diploma mills. These are not officially recognized institutions. They hand out fraudulent, unaccredited degrees that are fundamentally below the required standard for genuine graduate studies.

As reported, the problem is so severe that legislative bodies are taking notice. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has rightfully sounded the alarm, directly urging the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to “crack down” on these operations, particularly those preying on our hardworking teachers. This isn’t fearmongering; this is a factual crisis of accreditation and integrity.

The true cost of a fake degree

The victims are not just the individuals who enroll. Every peso and every hour wasted chasing a worthless degree is a personal tragedy. But the impact is societal.

First, it devalues every legitimate degree earned through sweat, late nights and real academic rigor. Why would anyone respect a genuine Master’s degree when a fraudulent one can be bought? Second, and most concerning for the public, it compromises the quality of our public service. If government promotions are secured using substandard or fake credentials, who suffers? The public, who rely on those promoted individuals to be competent, knowledgeable leaders and experts. It creates a system based on deceit, not merit.

We can’t wait for this problem to fix itself. It requires immediate, clear and multi-pronged action from all stakeholders.

Clear steps to end the scams

To address this effectively, we need transparency and accountability from the top down.

1. CHEd’s Mandate: The Public Blacklist

CHEd needs to immediately establish and heavily publicize a definitive, easily searchable “Accreditation Status Checker” and a “Diploma Mill Blacklist.” This list must be updated monthly and promoted across all government offices and through social media. Verification should be a one-click process, not a bureaucratic maze.

2. The Aspiring Professional’s Due Diligence

To every government employee considering graduate studies: Verify, verify, verify. Before you pay a single tuition fee, check the school’s status directly with CHEd. If a program promises a degree in an unreasonably short time or asks for significantly less academic work than a typical two-year program, it’s almost certainly a trap. Trust your gut.

3. Legitimate Universities Must Step Up

Accredited and reputable universities must acknowledge the demand for flexible, working professional-friendly programs. By offering competitive, high quality, and accessible online or weekend programs, they can eliminate the market demand for these fly-by-night operators. Quality and accessibility are the best defense against fraud.

The pursuit of promotions and further education is a noble goal. It’s time we protect that ambition from fraudsters and ensure that every degree earned in the Philippines represents a genuine commitment to scholarship and competence.