RS Cancels 294 Faculty Diplomas

Two faculties from Banja Luka and Gradiska issued diplomas illegally.

The Republika Srpska education inspection has rescinded 294 diplomas illegally issued by two private faculties in Banja Luka and Gradiska/Bosanska Gradiska, the Nezavisne novine daily writes. 

A total of 169 diplomas of the Faculty of Business Economics from Banja Luka and 125 diplomas of the former College for Business Management, today Business Management Faculty, in Gradiska/Bosanska Gradiska have been rescinded.

Diplomas issued with a number of illegalities 

The owners of the faculties can appeal to the Education and Culture Ministry as the institution of second instance that makes the final decision, said Minister Anton Kasipovic.

“My assessment is that the inspectors did a good job. The diplomas were cancelled because they were issued along with a number of illegalities, especially regarding the previous level of education and ways of examining students. In order to complete a faculty, you need your previous diplomas validated, prove that exams were passed and compare curricula and education plans. This was not done in this case and that is the foundation for such a decision”, Kasipovic told Banja Luka’s Nezavisne novine.

It is not known whether faculties will continue work 

At this moment, he added, it was still not known whether the faculties would be able to continue with their work. If after the appeal the inspectors’ findings are confirmed in the process of second instance, envisaged measures will be taken against the faculties.

The diplomas were issued with dubious acknowledgement of examinations that students passed in other higher education institutions, as well as the level of education that could not have brought a student almost directly to a diploma.