Avid College has been fined for issuing certificates to students who were not registered at the institution.
In a press release, the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) said that the fine was imposed after the college failed to comply with directives to cease issuing certificates to unregistered students.
"Regarding the matter of issuing qualifications to unregistered Sri Lankan students at Avid College, the institution was counselled and penalized earlier this year, and the matter was publicly announced," the MQA stated.
The authority further noted that the decision to fine the college was made following a recommendation from the MQA Advisory Board.
"It has since come to the attention of this authority that the college has continued to issue qualifications to unregistered students. Avid College has been instructed to prevent any recurrence, and as a secondary disciplinary measure, the college has now been fined upon the advice of this authority's Advisory Board," the MQA said.
The MQA emphasized that conducting programs in violation of its regulations could undermine the credibility of higher education institutions in the Maldives.
"Such actions diminish international confidence in the quality of the Maldivian higher education sector and increase the likelihood of the legitimacy of qualifications issued by local institutions being called into question," the statement read.
