Hernán Rivas’s eight-year prison sentence has prompted Paraguayan authorities and lawmakers to call for further investigations into the fake diploma scheme, its possible masterminds and the political support that enabled his rise at the Jury for the Prosecution of Magistrates (JEM), while critics also cited damage to the country’s image and earlier cases involving members of Honor Colorado and former heads of the body.
José Duarte Penayo
Pytagua coverage mentioning José Duarte Penayo.
A study by Aneaes indicates that graduates from accredited programs in Paraguay earn up to 13% higher salaries in formal employment, while a critic points out that the public sector is the largest employer of professionals from non-accredited courses.
The Senate postponed the creation of Smartum University due to the absence of a binding opinion from the National Council of Higher Education (CONES), as required by law.
Aneaes reported that out of 53 Pharmacy and Chemistry degree programs authorized by CONES in Paraguay, only 4 currently hold accreditation (7.5%), and that of the 1,364 diplomas issued by the MEC between 2023 and May 2026, 76.3% correspond to programs that have not completed the accreditation process.