Malawi’s Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education Training Authority (Teveta) has exposed fake examination bodies, Global Education Connect (GEC) and Trans Atlantic College, whose representatives have duped and siphoned about 4 000 pounds (about K2.6 million) from unsuspecting students in Malawi.
The tertiary institutions which have cried foul include African College and Bakhita Technical College in Balaka whose students paid money to agents of GEC and Trans Atlantic for examination administration.
Teveta acting executive director Wilson Makulumiza Nkhoma told journalists in the capital, Lilongwe on Sunday that representatives of the bogus institutions were awarding certificates, diplomas and degrees claiming the examination bodies are based in the United Kingdom (UK).
The British Council has also disowned the two bodies after discovering that their contact details could not be traced anywhere in the UK.
Said Nkhoma: “The agent issues an ID acclaimed from the body which the complainants doubt if they are genuine. Examinations are brought to the colleges by the same agent, invigilated by the college itself and collected by the same agent for marking, reportedly in the United Kingdom.”
The bogus examination bodies have gone as far as having agents in the UK who have been dealing with the colleges here in Malawi.
Investigations which Teveta conducted from October 23 this year found that Malawian students had lost 4 000 pounds to the scam.
Teveta also found that African College, a college which is not registered by Teveta, was the only GEC partner in Malawi.
Said Nkhoma: “At the moment Teveta strongly believe that this is a syndicate. Teveta in collaboration with relevant authorities is currently investigating the matter. The nation will be duly informed about this development and that such individuals once found will be dealt with accordingly.”
Teveta is a regulatory body that was established to coordinate, promote and facilitate technical, entrepreneurial and vocational education in Malawi.
