Degree Daze

THE buying and selling of degrees and the use of fake academic credentials are serious crimes. Those responsible for the printing and selling, as well as the buyers, must be penalized. All the benefits they have obtained from these fake certificates, such as promotions, remuneration or postings must be revoked. It does not matter if they are elected representatives, police officers, company managers, regional chief executives or university officials.

The police must immediately launch an investigation to follow-up on the report revealed by the Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry. There must strict oversight on the implementation of the order from the empowerment of state institutions and bureaucratic reforms minister to recheck the validity of degree certificates held by civil servants. This instruction must not become a new opportunity for deals to be made to avoid penalties, which end in money changing hands.

June 2, 2015