The San José Foundation scandal once again shakes the foundations of the Casa de Nariño. This time, the spotlight falls on Nelfy Melo Morales, who works as a secretary in the presidential office and, according to official records, achieved an academic feat that is difficult to believe: she obtained three university diplomas on July 5, 2024.

In a single day of graduation, Melo Morales became a technologist in Occupational Safety and Health, a business administrator and an industrial engineer, all titles awarded under degree certificate number 322 of the aforementioned institution.

The complaint, led by representative Cathy Juvinao, exposes what is already called the “titles cartel” in the National Government.

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What is most striking about these diplomas is not only the simultaneity of the courses, but also that the official presented the Saber Pro tests (a mandatory requirement before graduating) nine days after receiving her professional titles.

This irregularity contravenes Law 1324 of 2009, which requires the presentation of the State exam as a prior and essential step for the degree in Colombia.

Nelfy Melo Morales became President of the Republic in September 2022 and, according to investigations, she would have taken and completed three academic programs in a record time of three and a half years while performing her duties.

This episode recalls the controversy of Juliana Guerrero, whose failed appointment as vice minister uncovered the network of false degrees at the same university.

While the San José Foundation remains in the eye of the storm for its “express degrees,” the competent authorities must determine if these diplomas are valid or if they are part of a strategy to fraudulently comply with legal requirements.

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