13 November 2024

College owner faces criminal charges for ‘false’ student results

By Gurbir Singh:

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has filed criminal prosecution proceedings against the deregistered International College of New Zealand Limited (ICNZ), and its director, Chirag Solanki for allegedly falsifying results.

According to NZQA’s announcement today, the charges relate to Section 292C of the Education Act 1989, and in particular, the entry of false “achieved” results on to ICNZ students’ Records of Achievement.

Solanki who has been the director since 2003, and ICNZ both face 21 charges separately, including falsifying students’ record of achievement, for breaching the Section 292C of the Education Act. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $10,000.

NZQA had previously withdrawn ICNZ’s accreditation to provide the National Diploma in Business (Level 5), National Diploma in Business (Level 6), Diploma in Business Management (Level 7) and Diploma in Homeopathy (Level 7).

This had affected nearly 100 Indian students who were enrolled at ICNZ.

In a statement, NZQA informed that the agency has taken this action to ensure the integrity of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). The agency considers that the awarding of undeserved results undermines that integrity.

Efforts made by this journalist to contact Chirag Solanki to get his reaction, did not evoke any response.

This is reportedly the first time any private training establishment has been prosecuted under that section. However, in August last year, NZQA filed proceedings against an unregistered private training establishment (name suppressed) for illegally enrolling students.


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