MQA raises alarm over delay in the investigation of fake education certificates

The Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has reported 19 cases of forged certificates over the past six years, with a noticeable rise in recent incidents.

To tackle this growing issue, the MQA has now been granted sole authority to verify and attest the authenticity of documents it issues. Speaking at a press conference, MQA CEO Fizana Rasheed announced that all MQA-issued documents will now be officially stamped by the authority as a measure to curb forgery.

“Cases of forged stamps and signatures have increased significantly, 11 cases were reported last year, and we've already seen eight more this year,” Fizana said. She noted that some individuals have submitted fake certificates multiple times.

“We’re seeing cases where even photocopy shop workers are stamping documents. Some lawyers are also no longer trusted, it’s sometimes just the person at the counter signing off. How can we rely on that?” she asked, explaining that the new attestation requirement was introduced to address this.

Fizana listed several fields where fake certificates have commonly been reported, including:

She also raised concerns about the slow progress of related police investigations. “Even when cases are reported, the resolution process drags on. In the meantime, those with fake documents keep moving from one job to another, and the cycle continues,” she said.

To address this more efficiently, MQA has introduced a stamping rule as an immediate step, while a digital portal system is being developed to further streamline verification in the future. “We couldn't wait for the portal to be ready, so we brought in this rule now to reduce the spread of fake certificates,” Fizana added.

Under this rule, MQA will only verify and stamp documents it has directly issued. Certificates from Maldivian universities or colleges operating in the Maldives with MQA approval do not need separate attestation by MQA.