Rising prevalence of forged certificates: Proposal submitted to classify as a major felony and summon MQA leadership to Majlis
Member of Parliament Mohamed Ibrahim has proposed amendments to the Higher Education Act and requested the summoning of Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) officials to Parliament due to the rising prevalence of fraudulent academic certificates. The MP called for stricter penalties for offenders and advocated for the public disclosure of institutions issuing fake credentials as well as those utilizing them. Furthermore, he emphasized that this issue poses a significant threat to the integrity and international credibility of the Maldivian education system.
MQA CEO Fizana Rasheed. | Higher Education Minsitry
Officials from the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) have been summoned to Parliament over concerns regarding the proliferation of forged certificates and the issuance of unaccredited, substandard qualifications in the Maldives.
The Member of Parliament for North Galolhu, Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo), sent a letter to Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla on Wednesday, requesting that the leadership of the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) be summoned to Parliament regarding the matter.
In the letter submitted by MP Ibrahim, it was highlighted that the issuance and use of unaccredited certificates, as well as the possession of forged documents, have been classified as serious criminal offenses. It was further noted that these offenses currently fall under Section 310 of the Penal Code of the Maldives, carrying a prison sentence ranging from one to two years.
However, MP Ibrahim noted that this has also not been implemented to date.
MP Ibrahim stated that institutions repeatedly violating regulations should face substantial fines and potential closure. He noted that under current legislation, the maximum penalty for such offenses is limited to a fine not exceeding 10,000 Rufiyaa.
However, MP Ibrahim noted that this figure remains insufficient. Given the scale and sensitivity of the issue, he emphasized the importance of increasing this number.
In this regard, the letter submitted by the Quality Assurance Commissioner (QAC) emphasized the importance of amending Section 67 (Power to Take Action) of the Maldives Higher Education and Training Act. The Commissioner proposed that the identities of both the issuing parties and the recipients of unaccredited, unverified, or forged certificates be made public.
MP Ibrahim highlighted that students and their families suffer significant financial losses when forced to spend heavily on substandard qualifications. He warned that this undermines the integrity of the Maldivian higher education system, raising the risk that Maldivian credentials may eventually lose recognition internationally. Furthermore, MP Ibrahim emphasized that restoring employer confidence in graduates from educational institutions is a vital necessity for the nation's future.
Furthermore, MP Ibrahim requested that senior officials from the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) be summoned to the relevant parliamentary committee. This request aims to clarify the authority's role in assessing the quality of higher education and training services provided in the Maldives, as well as to identify the challenges faced in this process.
