All schools in the National Education System (NES) as well as all Provincial and National Education Authorities and agencies have been asked to familiarize themselves with the Security Features of original school certificates to differentiate the fake ones from genuine ones.
Education Secretary, Dr Uke Kombra said that forging of certificates of any kind is criminal in nature and blocks the growth of all citizens internally and their international participation.
“This he strongly urged that nobody should engage in such despicable acts.
“I appeal to all Papua New Guineans to report anyone forging or producing fake certificates to Police, to contain any such self-destroying mal practices.”
“I demand all our Citizens to be honest and loyal to PNG.”
For a long time, the genuine certificates have had Small-texts, Micro-texts and Embossing as the Security features in the grade eight, grade ten and grade twelve certificates.
Since 2018, several new security features have been added, for grades eight, ten, twelve, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Flexible, Open and Distance Education (FODE), Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and Teacher Registration Certificates, with the intent to make them fool-proof from any malpractices.
Kombra stated that certificates are printed by international Security Printing Companies and can’t be duplicated.
The current features are as given below;
1. Small-texts – the lines, have the minute texts with the Certificate Names
2. Micro-texts – ‘line width modulations’ as in the cheque books
3. Embossing – Seal with the Year, raised from Normal, can be felt by touch
4. Serial Numbers – Different certificates have their own sequence numbers
5. Gold Foil Hot Stamping – of the Certificate Names. Raised from normal
6. Holograms (as in Driver’s License) – PNG Crest with different shiny colors
7. UV Crest – Ultra-violet equipment detectable PNG Crest
8. Anti-copy – this feature has certain elements hidden from normal viewing
9. Few other features – Measurement Services Division identifiable
Furthermore, Kombra said that it is crucial to ensure the authenticity of school certificates to avoid potential legal and professional consequences.