Over the last few days, social media has been ablaze with news of a university in India selling fake degrees.
Of particular interest is news concerning a number of graduates from the school were reportedly found to be working in Singapore.
On Wednesday (17 Feb), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said that they’re currently investigating 15 work pass holders in Singapore who have declared qualifications from the university.
According to The Straits Times (ST), MOM is currently investigating 15 work pass holders who declared educational qualifications from Manav Bharti University in Himachal Pradesh, India.
If found to have falsely declared their educational qualifications, their work passes will be revoked. They will also be barred from being employed in Singapore.
Additionally, they may be charged under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and face a fine of up to $20,000, a jail term of up to 2 years, or both.
Over the last 5 years, around 660 foreigners have been banned from working in Singapore per year after they were found to have applied for Singapore work passes using fake academic qualifications.
Responding to ST, MOM says companies have the “primary responsibility” of verifying their foreign employees’ educational qualifications.
MOM will also carry out their own inspection of the qualifications as an “additional safeguard”.
Earlier this month, Manav Bharti University was found to have sold 36,000 fake degrees over a period of 11 years, reports The Times of India (TOI).
What’s of particular interest is that several of the university’s graduates were found to be working in Singapore, if their LinkedIn profiles are anything to go by.
The school is operated by Manav Bharti Charitable Trust, which runs private universities in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, reports TOI.
Since the revelation, police in India have commenced the extradition process for the chairman of the trust and his family members, who are currently in Australia.
Kudos to MOM for taking prompt action in light of recent developments concerning the university and their purportedly dubious degrees.
We hope this serves as reassurance for Singaporeans that the authorities are doing whatever they can to stamp out the issue of fake academic qualifications in Singapore.
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