A Sri Lankan tutor deported from the Maldives for producing paid assignment work is reportedly continuing the same services remotely, highlighting challenges in curbing such activities online.
Deportation Carried Out After Police Involvement
Fizana Rasheed, CEO of the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA), confirmed that the tutor was deported after the ministry reported the matter to the police. However, she noted that there is little the MQA can do to prevent the tutor from offering paid assignment services remotely.
“Police have responded to a case lodged last year. The individual in question had been teaching in the Maldives at the time. They have now been deported,” Fizana explained. “But their phone number and Facebook page could not be blocked. Every time one page is taken down, another appears. At this point, there is simply no way to fully stop this activity.”
Paid Assignment Services Still Accessible Online
The MQA CEO highlighted that despite deportation, the tutor continues to advertise assignment drafting services through social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, and Telegram.
“It doesn’t involve sharing sensitive content, so it’s difficult to regulate. Numerous pages remain active, and we are still trying to find effective ways to address this,” Fizana added.
Legal and Regulatory Measures
Producing assignments on behalf of students, even for payment, is illegal under Maldivian law. Following recent regulatory amendments, higher education institutions now require students to achieve a minimum 50 percent pass mark in all courses, a move that has helped curb paid assessment services to some extent.
Data collected from service advertisements suggests that drafting an assignment for payment typically costs over MVR 2,000. Under the Higher Education Act, students caught having someone else complete their assignments face fines of MVR 5,000, while individuals providing such services can be fined up to MVR 10,000.
While the Act urges institutions to monitor and take necessary actions beyond fines, it remains unclear whether any disciplinary measures have been implemented against students or service providers to date.
Challenges in Enforcement
The ongoing issue underscores the difficulty of regulating online services, especially when they operate across borders. Despite legal frameworks and police intervention, enforcement remains limited against remote operators who can easily shift platforms or create new accounts.
“Paid assignment services have not been fully eliminated, but recent measures have significantly reduced their prevalence,” Fizana noted, emphasizing the continued need for vigilance and institutional monitoring.
