Unauthorised institutions offering ACCA course

KOCHI: The Vidya Bharathi Institute of Management and Technology has stated that some of its affiliated colleges are offering foreign professional programmes like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK, without the knowledge of the parent institution.

"Ours is an authorised institution for the ACCA programme, and also an online examination centre.

There are only three institutions in Kerala which are licensed to conduct the ACCA course and examinations. However, an official communication from the ACCA, UK, has stated that the ACCA Global Group is not an authorised body," Vidya Bharathi Group chief patron N A Mohammedkutty said.

Mohammedkutty told reporters that despite the Mahatma Gandhi University syndicate directing the colleges not to entertain private agencies for offering ACCA course, some colleges continue to do so.

"Highly professional teachers are required to teach this course, as it is equivalent to the CA course in India," he said. He said holders of ACCA degree get jobs abroad for it is an international degree.

"We pay huge amounts to international experts to train the students for the final examination," he said, and alleged that a private group was misleading students by using the ACCA's name. "Even the emblem being used by the group is fake, as the ACCA trademark is in black and white, not red as shown in the brochures," he alleged.

Justice P K Shamsuddin is the chairman of the Vidya Bharathi Group, V Mohanlal is the vice-chairman and M S R Dev is the executive chairman.