Education scandals

Dear Sir,

This is in reference to the report,  “Residents fall victim to online degree scams” (Gulf Times, May 22). The number of people opting for the easy way out by acquiring fake university certificates is on the rise.
From a senior police officer of South Africa (Vincent Mdunge who reportedly failed his matric examination in 1985 and wrote supplementary exams in 1986 which also he  failed) to some Indian ministers (Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar, for instance, is alleged to have used a fabricated law graduate degree from a Bihar-based university which has filed an affidavit stating his  provisional certificate is “fabricated and doesn’t exist in their record” ),  education scandals are  becoming rampant in many countries.
Many people acquire them to get jobs, promotions and for prestige.  
Some recruiting agents and, in rare cases, even election commissioners seem to give more importance to such worthless papers!
Having a doctorate is becoming a fashion now. There is no longer any need for years of hard work to get a doctorate. Many fake universities offer them for a price.
In some cases, people seeking genuine educational qualifications are being cheated and but in most cases the so-called “victims” themselves are trying to hoodwink society by going after the fake degrees.
Without studying anything and any hard work, they try to win“certificates”.  So the fake colleges and educational institutions and their agents are not the only “criminals” here, their “victims”  should also be included on that list.
So both the perpetrators and victims should be prosecuted in cases related to education scams.  

Abdul Kareem E T, (Address supplied)

 

Democracy is alive in Greece

Dear Sir,

I would like to applaud the response by Zoi Konstatopoulou, the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, when confronted with  hundreds of riot armed police blocking the main entrance of the parliament buildings the other day. She was furious and demanded to know who authorised such undemocratic action due to a  rally. The  policeman in charge stated he was executing orders of a higher authority and he was simply doing his job.
That excuse was not good enough for her. She insisted that the parliament gates shall always remain open to the public and no citizens should be turned away but must be heard – good or bad. It is a citizen’s democratic human right to be heard and parliament is an integral part of democracy.
She demanded immediate removal of all police forces.
That is what democracy in action is all about. I hope such a vision in support of democratic principles and transparency is practised in Cyprus too.
Zoi Konstatopoulou has my respect and the respect of all those who support democracy.

Andreas C Chrysafis, (e-mail address supplied)

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