The Shadow Scholars is a shocking documentary about a subject I had no idea existed. Patricia Kingori, the youngest Black woman professor at Oxford University, investigates the industry of academic ghostwriting in Kenya. Around 40,000 Kenyans are writing essays for students in the West. An estimated 37 million people have used their services. Many of these students go on to become doctors, nurses, pilots, and other professionals we trust with our lives, all while passing off someone else’s work as their own. It raises ethical questions.
The writers in Kenya are highly educated, but because the country has one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the world, there aren’t enough good jobs available. Many of these writers earn only about $1 an hour, often working under tight deadlines to help students get their papers in on time.
I had two small issues with the film. First, while it discusses how AI, like ChatGPT could affect these Kenyan writers, it also uses AI to generate the faces of the people interviewed. It is done to protect their identity. The faces weren’t blurry, but they also weren’t entirely clear, which felt distracting. Second, I found it difficult at times to understand the Kenyan speakers because of their accents. Only one speaker was given subtitles, but I think it would have been wise if they used subtitles for all the subjects.
I also would have liked to hear more from the students who pay for these services. The film briefly includes one, but I understand the risk and why it probably wasn't possible.
Overall, The Shadow Scholars tells a troubling story. Wealthy students are able to earn degrees they didn’t truly earn, while talented Kenyan writers are unable to find legitimate good paying jobs. I'm curious to see if this winds up becoming further exposed.
Definitely worth a watch.
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