Students Pay to Change English Test Results

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

A CURTIN University employee charged up to $11,000 to falsify English tests for potential migrants, a corruption watchdog has been told.

Some of the migrants suspected of being involved in the scam were now applying for permanent residency or citizenship, with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship investigating whether visas should be revoked.

Yesterday, West Australia’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) began public hearings into whether any university staff engaged in misconduct when administering the Internal English Language Testing System (IELTS). Test results form part of a qualification process for highly-sought work and residency visas.

Acting Commissioner Mr Quinlan said the potential migrants paid between $1500 and $11,000 for their test results to be changed and this money went to a Curtin employee via intermediaries.

Immigration Department’s assistant secretary Peter Speldewinde told the CCC that if visas were being given to people who did not meet requirements, the program’s credibility was undermined.

“The integrity of the program is fundamental to maintaining public confidence,” he said.

Source: The Australian