It’s just come out that Macmillan Publishers has been banned by the World Bank over bribes it paid to the Sudanese government to secure lucrative education contracts in the Sudan‏‎.

This came as quite a surprise to me (and I guess a lot of other people, too) for a couple of reasons.

1. Firstly while we can expect bribes from oil companies, arms manufacturers, giant multi-nationals and so on, you don’t really expect to hear of bribes and educational companies in the same breath.
2. And secondly, we all know education is a business, but such a profitable business that makes bribery an option?

Sad really.

2012-07-03 Update – OUP Bribery

In July 2012 OUP were also fined almost 1.9 million GBP after having been found to have bribed officials in East Africa. Ref