DOHA: Parents and academics have called on the Supreme Education Council (SEC) to launch a thorough investigation into reports that some institutions are offering fake university degrees to students in Qatar.
The demand follows a recent warning issued by the SEC against some commercial entities reportedly offering university services to students here.
The SEC last week issued a statement, advising parents and students not to deal with such dubious institutions and avoid getting cheated. It clarified that it had not granted permission to any individual or commercial entity to provide services to university students in Qatar.
“Rumours say that an entity has been granted permission to facilitate university access and admission for a diploma, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Master’s or a doctorate,” said the SEC statement. The entity is also said to be offering registration for undergraduate study abroad and follow up on students’ achievements.
It also claims to provide books, notes and other items, whether the study is by enrollment, or through distance or e-learning, the SEC added.
The SEC said any such action is contrary to the provisions of Law No. 6 of 2000 on providing educational services in Qatar.
Any certificate obtained through such entities will not be authenticated by the SEC as they are issued by institutions not accredited by the SEC. Those who want to apply for university or college degrees must contact the guidance office at SEC for information, said the statement.
The SEC provided a list of 21 institutions permitted to offer university degrees in Qatar. They are Qatar University, Community College of Qatar, College of the North Atlantic- Qatar, University of Calgary in Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, University College London in Qatar, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, HEC Paris in Qatar, Ahmed bin Mohammed Military College, College of Policing, Joaan bin Jasim Joint Command and Staff College, Mohammed bin Abdallah Al Attiyah Air Force College, Qatar Aeronautical College, Ras Laffan Emergency & Safety College, and Stenden University Qatar.
Reacting to the SEC statement, several parents and students said the council should not stop with issuing warnings.
“It should launch an inspection campaign to check the truth of such reports. The SEC should make public the names of such entities, if any, found operating in Qatar and take legal action against them,” a local Arabic daily quoted a Qatari student as saying.
Qatari academics have advised students and parents not to be misled by reports and advertisements appearing on social media and seek guidance from the SEC office on university degrees and services.
THE PENINSULA
