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Albania closes 18 universities for issuing fake diplomas

Government, 'time to destroy pyramid system in education'

07 August, 17:33
(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Albanian Council of Ministers approved the decision to revoke the licenses to 18 higher education institutions suspected for selling fake diplomas. Suspension of activities and legal action against other 13 universities was also ordered. The 'blacklist' includes Kristal University, hit by scandal in 2012 for issuing a false degree to Renzo Bossi, the son of the leader of Italy's right-wing party Northern League, Umberto Bossi.

"These decisions have been taken in the aftermath of a verification process conducted with integrity by the Ministry of Education and Sports on the criteria of legitimacy in some public and non public universities" announced the Albania's Deputy Prime Minister, Niko Peleshi, in a note published on the Government's website. The closure of the so-called 'diploma factories' aims at "putting an end to the shameful flourishing of financial pyramids in education and to the trade of fake diplomas in Albania".

The action was described as the sign of the "firm determination" of the Albanian government its Prime Minister, Edi Rama, to thoroughly conduct the recently started reform in education. The Government said that the students of the universities to be closed would be given a chance to continue their studies in other institutions of Higher Education. (ANSA)
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