Minister Stresses Dangers of Diploma Mills

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Education

Thursday, 16 February 2012 02:30

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St John's - Education Minister Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro has issued another warning in the face of the rising popularity of diploma mills.

Dr Quinn-Leandro was speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the Accreditation Office, a unit within the Ministry of Education that will accredit educational institutions and their programmes. She described accreditation as an important process as the nation seeks to develop its human resources.

“Simply put, accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority or credibility is presented," the minister explained.

"It involves a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programmes are evaluated to determine if applicable standards are met. It those applicable standards are met, accredited status is granted, and vice versa."

But the minister said there has been a rise in the number of online institution purporting to be legitimate, offering "bogus" certificates and diplomas.

“In fact, there are some in our society who have been fooled into believing that the degree they hold has some value, when it does not," she said.

"I have spoken ad nauseum, as recent as November of last year during our sensitization workshop, about the diploma mills around the globe which are flourishing and thriving because students have not taken the time and effort to check whether these 'universities' are accredited or not."

According to Dr Quinn-Leandro, in today’s times, when resources are scarce, Antigua & Barbuda cannot and must not take for granted the very serious matter of accreditation.

She said, “Students are spending thousands of hard-earned dollars to get a high-quality education, and they do not expect to be duped into getting a third rate or mediocre degree or diploma.
It is to the Accreditation Board that they look for such guidance and information."

Dr Quinn-Leandro said ministries of education across the globe are increasingly concerned about the rise in online education. She noted that a growing number of students are opting for the convenience of staying at home and studying in a short period of time, and getting some type of degree or certification. But she cautioned the public: "Don't confuse accelerated degrees, which are offered by many legitimate online schools, with instant degrees, which are fakes."


The National Accreditation Office is located on Prime Minister’s Drive. It is headed by Glenmore Joseph as executive director, with Yolanda Lake-Goodwin as the accreditation officer.

Meanwhile, Petra Williams, of Education For Advancement, said she welcomes the establishment of ABAB. She said she has been working closely with the ministry on behalf of the institutions she represents to ensure they meet the standards that are established.

“It is good for the industry," she said, "as it is important for people to know what they are buying. What is the sense of signing up for a university, completing its programme, and at the end it has no recognition?"

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