Academic Scandal: A Case of Corruption in Plain Sight
If this isn’t corruption, then what is?
Minister of Education, Alan Hama Saeed, who took office on July 10, 2019, under the ninth cabinet, has found himself at the center of a scandal involving an illegal doctorate degree and a questionable promotion to a scientific rank. During his tenure, several laws were blatantly violated, raising serious concerns about the legitimacy of his academic achievements.
Here’s why his doctorate is illegal:
- Violation of Ministerial Decree: According to ministry regulations, individuals holding high-ranking positions, like that of a minister, are prohibited from pursuing higher education while in office. Alan Hama Saeed should not have been allowed to pursue a doctorate while serving as Minister of Education.
2. Higher Education Eligibility: A student pursuing higher education must hold a full-time license, particularly in teaching roles within the Ministry of Higher Education. The minister should have been actively teaching at a university rather than occupying an administrative role.
3. PhD Completion Requirements: Completing a PhD necessitates the publication of research. However, no evidence of such research exists in Alan Hama Saeed’s case. There’s no visible thesis, no academic profile, and no clear record of when or how his doctorate was completed.
4. Promotion Requirements: Academic promotion requires substantial research contributions. Yet, according to our investigation, no such studies are available. How could someone simultaneously perform the duties of a minister and pursue doctoral studies?
Alan Hama Saeed claims he became a teacher in February 2019, but this timeline raises further questions. Doctoral students are typically not promoted while still studying, yet he somehow managed both a ministerial role and academic advancement.
This is a clear violation of all established guidelines. The fault does not lie solely with Alan Hama Saeed; those who facilitated and enabled this corruption are equally culpable, particularly the administrations of the University of Sulaimani and Salahaddin University. Both institutions, under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, played a role in this academic scandal.
