Notizie.it editorial team A “diploma maker” has reportedly been identified in Bologna. A city school has been seized by the Guardia di Finanza, by order of the judge for preliminary investigations, for the alleged sale of high school diplomas for 3000 euros. The students allegedly received their certificates regardless of the exam results, which were supposedly discounted.
The seized so-called “diploma factory”, known as Leonardo Da Vinci School, demanded an exorbitant fee for the exam from students, far above the legal limit (12,09 euros), paid partially in cash. The crimes of criminal association, corruption and forgery were charged by the Bologna prosecutor's office to seven suspects, considered responsible for the three schools presumably involved.
More precisely, the Bologna school in question specializes in recovering school years. Two private schools, located in Fermo (Marche) and Portici (Campania), allegedly participated in the fraudulent scheme. According to investigators, students from the Bologna school were sent to these two private schools, where they obtained a diploma or passed an exam, regardless of their level of preparation. In exchange, the schools were supposed to receive a portion of the fees paid by students from the Bologna school.
The action conducted by the first metropolitan nucleus of the Fiamme Gialle of Bologna resulted in multiple searches, blocking of bank accounts and confiscation of a building in Bologna that hosts remedial courses. As detailed by the Fiamme Gialle officials, the Leonardo Da Vinci school has been a great success among young people who want to make up for lost school years. Thanks to the excellent reputation acquired after numerous positive exams, the school has seen a 600% increase in its profits in just five years.
The authorizations obtained also guaranteed significant profits to the school in Portici, Campania, which between 2017 and 2023 would have received approximately 214 thousand euros. The private school in Fermo would have been paid approximately 60 thousand euros. The investigation began following a complaint that pointed out irregularities and frivolous formulations during lessons and exams, including the notation of absent students as present. Furthermore, the students, at the time of enrollment, were unaware of the obligation to travel to another region for the final exam.
The Minister of Education, Giuseppe Valditara, expressed his comment on the operation through X, stating: “The government continues its fight against diploma mills”. This is one of the first results of the agreement signed in February last year between the Ministry of Education and the Fiamme Gialle to fight the so-called diploma mills.
