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National scene: Govt forms task force to raid fake degrees
The Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry is set to establish a task force aimed at cracking down on the issuance of fake degrees following recent reports of higher education institutions conducting such illegal practices
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he Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry is set to establish a task force aimed at cracking down on the issuance of fake degrees following recent reports of higher education institutions conducting such illegal practices.
Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir said the task force would comprise his ministry, the National Police, the Attorney General's Office and the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry.
'We have discussed it with the related parties. All of them have agreed to establish the task force,' Nasir said recently as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said the planned task force would conduct verification on degrees received by civil servants, House of Representatives lawmakers and Provincial Legislative Council councilors.
The police had been investigating reports that some lawmakers had obtained fake degrees.
The ministry, meanwhile, has frozen dozens of private higher education institutions for a number of reasons, including the issuance of fake diplomas.
Nasir said that higher education institutions issuing fake degrees could be charged under the 2003 National Education System Law and the 2012 Higher Education Law.
The 2003 National Education System Law stipulates that those who issue, help issue or use fake degrees can face a maximum sentence of five years in prison or a fine of Rp 500 million.
