Government Information Technology Officer Abdallah Ahad has until tomorrow to confirm his qualifications are legitimate after serious questions were raised about him.

Education Minister Terry Lister said yesterday, the $80-000-a-year officer ? whose responsibilities include helping implement the respected B.TEC programme in public schools ? will have to produce proof of his qualifications.

The Bermuda Sun reported yesterday that the "university" which Mr. Ahad said awarded him a PhD no longer exists ? but that it had previously sold degrees online.

Last week, it was reported that two American universities ? Harvard and Cambridge College ? where Mr. Ahad said he studied, had never heard of him.

Mr. Ahad moved from his post as an instructor at Bermuda College to the Ministry of Education.

The new Ministry post required a degree as a minimum qualification.

Mr. Lister said yesterday: "When we became aware of this, through the story, he had already transferred from one part of Government (the College) to another, which allowed him to move easily than someone from outside.

"Having said that, once we became aware of the story, we began an investigation process that includes the man having his day in court, so to speak.

"He will have the opportunity to present his credentials ? to show if they are legitimate ? and the time-scale expires on Friday. He is working to produce them and we will sit and wait until that time.

"Come Friday, he will produce something. If it suffices, that will be the end of the matter. And, if not, a report will go to the Permanent Secretary. That report will come to me by Monday and decisions on his future employment will be made at that time."

When asked what would happen if the qualifications are not genuine, Mr. Lister said: "Let's wait until Friday and find out for sure."

A complaint from Mr. Ahad, while he was an instructor at Bermuda College, led to the sacking of veteran lecturer Dr. Sean O'Connell.

Mr. Ahad said Dr. O'Connell made racist comments.

The comments were allegedly overheard in the staff room, prompting an investigation that led to Dr. O'Connell being fired.

But College President Dr. Michael Orenduff said yesterday the question marks over Mr. Ahad would not cause him to reconsider the sacking of the 29-year-teaching veteran.

Dr. Orenduff said yesterday: "We have independent verification (of the conversation).

"The accusation against Dr. O'Connell was not solely based on the word of Mr. Ahad and, consequently, we are satisfied with the action taken."

He said Mr. Ahad did not require a degree for his position at the College.

He did not know if checks had been made, about whether his degree was legitimate, when he was hired.

"I don't know what checking was done, as it was before I was here, before the academic vice-president was here and before the human resources director was here," said Dr. Orenduff.

"He was an instructor. We have certificates showing he did computer courses. These are certificates, not degrees, and it was on the basis of those certificates, that he was hired in the job."

Meanwhile, the educational director of the B.TEC initiative, Dr. Lynn Bak, said the controversy over Mr. Ahad did not affect the credibility of the programme.

B.TEC was started by XL six years ago to develop a world class IT programme for the Island's schools.

Dr. Bak said yesterday: "We can't comment about his qualifications but the programme was established and implemented before he was hired by the Ministry of Education.

"Our implementation and standards for the curriculum were internationally accredited, and our training was all in place.

"Mr. Ahad had little impact, if any at all, on what we have done....

"The programme hasn't felt any impact from his presence.

"We haven't had an opportunity, as yet, to even meet with the Ministry to talk about the situation. And, we would not talk about Mr. Ahad personally, but about maintaining the integrity of the programme."

Mr. Ahad could not be contacted for comment yesterday.