Cheng Shoong Tat wrote to ST to show his concern about MOH withdrawing recognition of medical degree from a top university only after being informed by the Indian authority. This kind of problem, substandard and imitation degrees, is prevalent in most developing countries. Even in mature western countries, imitation degrees are quite common.
In all fields, an error in judgement may not be so critical. But in medical science, when the consequences mean life and death, we must expect greater due diligence. Not only it will affect our people, it will also affect the quality of the whole medical profession and our medical hub reputation.
> Even in mature western countries, imitation degrees are quite common. <
ReplyDeleteCommon?
Can you prove this outrageous claim? Or at least cite a reference?
haven't you read reports that there have been syndicates selling pieces of paper and people have been caught using those pieces of paper to apply of jobs?
ReplyDeletenot that the universities are at fault.
Of course. But first I would challenge you on calling these operations "syndicates", like big time crime syndicates. These are small-time operations and what they offer are NOVELTY items.
ReplyDeleteJust like a toy gun, there is no crime unless someone uses the gun, or the novelty degree to deceive another party and interfere with their property rights.
But the buyer (user of the fake qualification) usually gets caught. Yes, there have been spectacular examples of people holding high positions, for long periods, earning top dollar; all because they slipped through the net with a fake qualification.
BUT... this is NOT "common".
Since you cannot cite any references, I will do so for you ;-)
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/diplomamills.shtm
Example of sources fake degree:
[1]
[2]
[3]
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The dark art of factual DISTORTION is common in journalism. It is often surreptitiously used by journos who are UNAWARE that they're even doing it. A slight exaggeration here, a stretch of the truth there, an over emphasis on this, an under emphasis on that... and voila, you have a whole different scenario.
For example, the fact that the MOE has withdrawn the recognition of an educational institution is because (AFAIK) of substandard degrees.
The issue of imitation degrees is irrelevant to the MOE's action; and is an entirely separate issue altogether.
I'm afraid redbean is guilty of another (common?) misdemeanor committed by journos: sensationalism and scaremongering by mixing up essentially unrelated ideas.
Is this a "common" occurence in the journalist community? I'll let the reader be the judge, and encourage hanging around press clubs to get a "feel", for example getting rolling drunk at the FCCT in Bangkok, and arguing about the Thai sex trade with Femi-Nazi farang women journos—usually from the BBC, CNN and associated socialist/communist news organisations :-)