Ministry of Education advises residents that online ad for scholarships and free university courses is a fake

The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries is responding to a
“Fake Scholarship Advertisement” on Facebook that has been up for a short
time.
 
The Ministry, in a press release, is advising the public that this advertisement,
which has been making the rounds on social media regarding free online
university courses, is a fake.
 
This advertisement bears the Coat of Arms of Antigua and Barbuda, what
appears to be a medical logo, and another symbol that is unrecognizable.
 
It reads, “Ministry of Education and universities team up to offer free online
university courses.”
 
The fake ad encourages suitable applicants between the ages of 18 and 60
years to take advantage of the opportunity.
 
The ad also promises that interested individuals will receive their certificate
in four weeks and that laptops will be provided free of cost.
 
It urges people in various age tranches to apply and says that students with
excellent grades will receive scholarships, while successful completion of the
programme leads to a degree.
 
Apparently, this scam came to the Ministry’s attention when its headquarters
was bombarded with calls from interested individuals.
 
Reports say it continues to field calls from residents seeking further
information on the “2024 Online Courses.”
 
However, education officials say they have no knowledge of any such
arrangement.
 
“Therefore, persons are asked to refrain from sharing personal information as
it relates to the advertisement,” the press release says.
 

Ministry of Education officials says that any scholarship offering being
announced by the Ministry will be done through mainstream media outlets
and via the Ministry’s social media platforms.