The Hindu             01.08.2013

Corporation teachers in fake certificate scam

Aloysius Xavuier Lopex

As many as 120 secondary-grade teachers in Chennai
Corporation’s primary schools are under the scanner for landing jobs
with fake certificates.

The Corporation, which has
commenced an inquiry into the source of the certificates, is yet to
ascertain the exact number of teachers who have submitted them. Some of
the teachers even have certificates from non-existent teacher training
institutes.

Many of the teachers are yet to cooperate with the civic body in the scrutiny of the certificates, said a Corporation official.

According
to sources in the Corporation, the teachers who are under scrutiny were
appointed in the period between 1995 and 2000. The civic body started
an inquiry into the matter in 2004. Eight teachers were dismissed and
more teachers with fake certificates were traced.

However,
the Corporation commissioner was transferred, putting an end to action
against such teachers a decade ago. Recent investigations by the civic
body have revealed that some employees also misled senior officials
during the verification process in 2004.

“All the teachers with fake certificates will be traced soon,” said another official.

A
secondary grade teacher who works at a Chennai School said certificates
are periodically verified, especially at the time of promotions. Her
certificates, she said, were verified a week ago. “Teachers without
requisite training cannot handle primary classes. Unless they are
trained in child psychology and teaching methodologies, it will reflect
in the classroom,” she said.

The education department
of the Corporation manages 32 higher secondary schools, 36 high
schools, 1 Urdu high school, 1 Telugu high school, 92 middle schools,
122 primary schools and 30 kindergarten schools with a total of 98,857
students and 4,041 teachers.

Some teachers landed jobs with certificates from non-existent teacher training institutes.