Student loans fraud exposed by Panorama
The chairwoman of Parliament’s spending watchdog wants a police probe after the BBC’s Panorama uncovered evidence of fraud in the student loan system.
One education agent was secretly filmed offering to get bogus students admitted into a government-approved private college for a ВЈ200 fee.
Public Accounts Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier said: “There is criminal fraud going on from what you’ve shown me. It needs to be referred to the police.”
‘Horrible people exploiting education system’
BBC Panorama spent 10 months investigating dishonest education agents and bogus students who are committing frauds that target private guaranteedinstallmentloans.com/payday-loans-mn/ colleges – also known as alternative providers – which offer courses approved for student loans.
Agents were secretly filmed supplying fake documents, including a qualification certificate to a BBC undercover researcher posing as a bogus student, who wanted to cheat their way on to courses and apply for student loans.
“These are horrible people who are exploiting our education system,” said NUS President Shakira Martin. “The student finance system is ultimately broken.”
About ВЈ400m-a-year is received by 112 private colleges through the student loan system. The government is keen to expand the sector as part of reforms designed to make degree and diploma courses more accessible to people who might otherwise find it difficult to enter higher education. Continue reading “‘You just have to come and sit like a dummy’”