The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has said that 1,250 cases of fake degrees have been referred to the Public Prosecution for investigation in the last five years.
These cases include fake certificates, certificates with fake seals and stamps and those with concocted qualifications. Of these, 133 related to fake qualifications; a majority of them issued in India (21 per cent), followed by Egypt (18 per cent), Tanzania (13 per cent), Pakistan (ten per cent), Iraq (seven per cent) and US and Malaysia (six per cent each).
MoHE said that it has been raising awareness about fake universities through campaigns and the local media. If the degree is suspected to be fake, the case is passed to the committee responsible for recognition and accreditation. The student’s case is further referred to the Public Prosecution for investigation and action against the student.
Said Amur al Rahbi, director of MoHE’s Qualifications Equivalence and Recognition Department told Muscat Daily, “Once we discover the university is fake, we list it on our website, put an announcement in the local newspapers and initiate a correspondence with the Public Prosecution and follow up as they proceed with the investigation. The Public Prosecution decides on the action taken.”
Rahbi said fake universities were a big concern. “We would also like to warn students about fake universities. There are students who opt for virtual courses only and have attained a degree without completing assignments or appearing for exams. We would like to recommend that students check our website for fake universities before opting for a certification and thereby save their money, time and future.”
Source: MuscatDaily