Ministry enhances scrutiny of overseas education ads

BEIJING: The Education Ministry has stepped up the scrutiny of advertisements for overseas study programs in an attempt to uncover illegal or counterfeit diploma issuance.

According to a circular published on the ministry’s website, adverts for overseas studies involved with “misleading promotion” should be dealt with according to the law, with the help of industry and commerce bureaus.

Chinese schools working with foreign counterparts to send students abroad to study or issuing foreign diplomas had thrived because they were “meeting the public’s diverse educational demands”, but some problems had emerged, it said.

It called on educational departments and colleges to gain a deeper understanding of foreign schools, to sign standardised agreements on educational exchanges, and clarify and strictly implement teaching plans, student records, training schemes, curriculum arrangements and diploma issuance.

The circular said the ministry would not approve any foreign diploma and certificate that were acquired or issued illegally.

Diploma approval by the Educational Ministry is a necessary step before foreign diplomas are recognised in China.

It also asks teachers to “cautiously” participate in teaching events organised by foreign schools, and prohibits them from illicit teaching.

The circular went on to say that various levels of educational departments and universities should regulate the sector of foreign education. — Xinhua