Pereira Coutinho calls for action against fake diplomas

Lawmaker José Maria Pereira Coutinho has expressed serious concerns regarding a recent scandal involving fraudulent high school diplomas from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

This issue emerged after 24 students were expelled from the University of Science and Technology of Macau (MUST) for submitting fake credentials, which they obtained through intermediaries.

“The issue of fake HKSAR high school diplomas constitutes the tip of a huge iceberg that must be rigorously combated,” Coutinho stated during his inquiry at the Legislative Assembly yesterday.

He emphasized the threat this scandal poses to the reputation of local higher education institutions, both private and public.

In his inquiry, Coutinho questioned how universities in Macau verify and authenticate academic qualifications presented by prospective students. He said many secretariats within these institutions may lack the necessary training or diligence to properly assess documentation.

This oversight has allowed unqualified candidates to gain admission, undermining the credibility of academic programs. The lawmaker said inadequate training and verification processes within some educational secretariats may lead to the acceptance of questionable documents.

“At the end of the day, they simply enroll the new ‘university student’ without proper scrutiny,” he remarked.

Coutinho recalled raising similar concerns in 2008 when reports surfaced about civil servants presenting questionable qualifications for public service exams. His 2008 inquiry addressed the recognition of academic documents.

He said, “Many candidates were presenting professional qualification certificates and university degrees of dubious origin.” The lawmaker warned this could lead to injustices and unfair competition among applicants, “This harmful practice threatens the integrity of our educational and professional systems.”

Coutinho also touched on decisions made by the government in 2003. A regulation was made that abolished advisory committees responsible for recognizing academic qualifications, which he believes has led to a surge in fraudulent documentation cases.

“Since these committees were dissolved, we have seen an increase in false certificates in public competitions,” he argued.

Educational fraud poses a significant threat to the integrity of academic institutions. Coutinho emphasized that it is imperative for the government to implement stricter verification processes for academic documents to maintain the quality of education and uphold the region’s educational reputation. Nadia Shaw