Fake international papers targeted
New system will eradicate frauds
The South African Qualifications Authority (Saqa) can now determine the validity of international qualifications in seconds.
The authority launched in Pretoria yesterday, a system aimed at eradicating fraudulent, internationally obtained qualifications. Saqa said the system would benefit holders of qualifications obtained from other countries. It added that the system would be launched in a one-year pilot project.
CEO Joe Samuels said they had detected problems with qualifications obtained internationally.
“We had 300 misrepresentations of international qualifications in the period between 2014 and 2015 and the number came down by 120 in 2015 and 2016,” Samuels said.
“However, we have seen a slight increase between 2016 and 2017, with 201 misrepresentatives of qualifications. Even though this is a small problem we want to eliminate and eradicate any form of fraudulent activities.”
Samuels said they also wanted to make sure it was easy for them to detect when something was not authentic.
A company or an applicant can upload their certificate number into the system then it searches the authenticity of certificate and brings back the results within seconds.
The digital system reduces the time it takes to reach the qualification holder as it can be shared and verified in realtime as evidence to support applications for further studies, visas, employment and professional licensing in South Africa.
“We are proud of this pilot project and the electronic Saqa certificate of evaluation,” Samuels said.
“South Africans who have obtained their international qualifications and want to further their studies at any higher institutions in South Africa will have their qualifications evaluated and be issued with a Saqa certificate. Immediately when we have issued them with the certificate it will be available online.”
The digital certificate comes with a digital seal, which can be embedded in email signatures, social media profiles and websites so that holders can showcase their qualifications.
In this pilot phase Saqa used the services of PrivySeal to provide the certificate and the digital seal in a secure manner.
‘‘ We want to eliminate fraudulent activities