The Ministry of Higher Education in Guinea is facing criticism for the dissemination of an official-looking document listing unrecognized higher education institutions, which was later disavowed as an internal working tool. Signed and stamped, the document circulated in the press before being publicly renounced, leaving students, parents, and school administrators in a state of uncertainty. Despite claiming the leak was due to a procedural failure, the Ministry’s initial presentation of the list – with official markings – gave it an air of legitimacy, sparking public outcry. The delayed response from the Ministry of Boubacar Camara further fueled concerns, allowing the reputations of listed institutions to be damaged and casting doubt on the value of students’ degrees. This incident raises questions about the reliability of communications from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and its internal validation processes. The Ministry has not issued a full denial or clarification regarding the document’s contents.