Education Minister hails Premier’s directives

Manama, Aug.19 (BNA): The Education Ministry vowed zero tolerance in dealing with any fake certificates, expressing keenness on verifying all academic degrees are real. Education Minister Dr, Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi commended the directives of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman A-Khalifa to inquire into the alleged issuance of academic degrees by fictitious or unaccredited overseas’ universities. Dr, Al-Nuaimi, also Higher Education Council (HEC) Chairman, hailed HRH the Premier’s directives which, he said, reflect keenness on promoting the educational system in Bahrain. He announced that the ministry and the council would draw up the necessary mechanisms to implement HRH the Premier’s directives. He hailed the edict which was issued by HRH the Premier on establishing the new-look academic accreditation committee, adding that the ministry and the council will cooperate with the panel. In a statement issued today, he stressed the measures which were taken by the council over the past years against universities which were found in breach of the law. He cited the case of a Bahrain-based university whose licence had been revoked for tampering with the students’ degree certificates. "The ministry has referred a number of suspected fake degree certificates to the Public Prosecution", said Dr. Al-Nuaimi, adding that some universities had withdrawn, having failed to meet the requirements of the law on higher education. "The Higher Education Council takes action, every year, clamping down on universities whose academic programmes and specialties fail to meet the regulations", he said. He said that the National Accreditation Committee features officials representing the Education Ministry, the University of Bahrain, the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) and the College of Health Sciences. Other members represent doctors, accountants, engineers and lawyers. "The committee assesses degrees obtained from overseas universities and accredits qualifications that meet the requirements", said Dr. Al-Nuaimi. He said that the accredited qualifications represent a condition sine qua non for candidates to be employed by ministries and government departments overseen by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB), affirming that no certificates are approved unless they meet the terms and conditions.