Scam in TN teachers recruitment: Over 250 evaluators tampered with marks

Last June, 17,060 candidates appeared for the Diploma in Teacher’s Education (DTE) test for preliminary qualification for secondary school education in government schools across TN. The two-year course imparts teacher training for primary level education from Class 1 to 5. After completing DTE, candidates appear for Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TET) as final qualification for the appointment of secondary teachers. The evaluation of DTE answer sheets was completed in September 2018.

A senior Teacher’s Recruitment Board official told DT Next that the results for the DTE exams were yet to be out. “However, it was found that more than 250 evaluators indulged in malpractice by putting extra marks ranging from 50 to 100 in the answer sheets of several students,” the official claimed. He stated that as per initial investigation, many students allegedly offered money to the evaluators. “A detailed report is being prepared to get the exact list of guilty evaluators,” he said, adding, the Tamil Nadu State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has issued instructions that departmental action be taken against the offenders.

The DTE curriculum contains four core subjects including foundation of education and knowledge of school curriculum development. Candidates could choose elective from English, Tamil, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Economics, Commerce and Accountancy. With results getting delayed due to this, thousands of aspirants are now in the lurch. “Revaluation should soon begin and results should be out immediately,” a DTE candidate said.