MQA warns of invalid educational certificates for employment

Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) Chief Executive Officer Mariyam Fizana Rasheed has said that individuals are securing jobs in key sectors using invalid educational qualifications.

The police have confirmed that they are investigating several cases involving the submission of invalid educational certificates for both employment and higher education.

Responding to the police statement on social media, Fizana wrote on Facebook that MQA had recently received such a certificate and expressed concern that people are employed in critical fields with these documents.

She noted that in 2017 the MQA had stopped affixing validation stamps to certificates issued for courses in the Maldives. At that time, the agency had consulted with the Civil Service Commission and introduced a rule which has since been discontinued. Last year, the use of MQA validation stamps for recruitment in any ministry was formally banned.

According to Fizana:

Police reiterated in their statement that presenting or using an invalid certificate is a criminal offence. Offences include altering or copying documents, falsifying items of value, and presenting them as originals to misrepresent identity.

“Employers and all education providers are reminded to be vigilant and follow the qualification framework,” the police said.