A diploma scam

It is weird that some 12,000 primary and middle school teachers were awarded diplomas of higher learning by taking distance education courses for two years, but the Ministry of Education does not recognize their diplomas.

Hubei Education College in Hubei province, with the authorization of the provincial education commission, provided remote higher education to primary and middle school teachers and awarded diplomas in 2002 and 2003. Some 12,000 teachers took the courses by paying 4,000 yuan ($588) each as tuition fee and were awarded the diplomas.

However, when one of the diploma holders applied for another job in Shenzhen in Guangdong province, his diploma did not pass online verification of the Ministry of Education. The diploma was declared fake by the Information Consultation and Employment Guidance Center attached to the ministry. The college does not have the mandate to offer distance education, according to the center.