Al Ain officials probe IELTS, TOEFL scam claim

Dubai: Authorities in Al Ain have launched an investigation into the alleged sale of IELTS and TOEFL certificates reflecting English language proficiency to a number of students of an educational institution by a member of staff.

The staff member targeted students who had failed the tests a number of times and charged between Dh4,000 to Dh4,500 for the certificates, Gulf News has learnt

“Students who failed to pass the test five or six times were targeted by an employee of the institution. The employee approached those students and informed them that they knew somebody working on the campus who would issue an official and authorised certificate for them but the students would have to pay Dh4,000 to Dh4,500. Once the two parties agreed, the employee gave the certificate to the students and the students took their certificate and gave the employee the money,” a source said.

The management was tipped off about the illegal activity and is believed to have confronted some of the students who had fallen for the deal.

Officials at the institution told Gulf News that any student found to have bought a certificate without passing the test would be expelled from the institution. The institution has asked the Ministry of Higher Education to take necessary action against any wrongdoers.

All parties involved in selling certificates to students will be brought to justice and legal action initiated against them, officials at the institution said.