As many as 500 people who sat for an exam for assistant teachers were involved in large-scale, systematic fraud, according to a source familiar with the investigation into the scandal.
A source from the Justice Ministry yesterday said an initial investigation found that about 500 out of more than 10,000 test-takers cheated using one of three methods: answers were provided to the examinees via electronic tools; they were provided with answers before entering the examination halls; or they got other people to take the test on their behalf.
However, it remains unclear if these 500 exam-takers are among the 2,000 people who passed the exam for assistant teachers.
Thanin Prempree, director of corruption prevention and suppression centre at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), said it would summon seven school directors in the Northeast, the region reported to have the most obvious cheating cases, for interrogation. The DSI would also summon other relevant groups for interrogation later.
DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith said the investigation would be finished in 15 days and the report sent to the Education Ministry. The ministry could then request the Special Investigation Committee of the DSI to further investigate as a special case.
Thanin said after the committee took it up as a special case, the DSI would have the authority to carry out an in-depth investigation to find out who had engaged in cheating.
He added that the DSI had planned with the Education Ministry to look into a problem that many selected test-takers' names appeared on selected lists of two educational service area offices.
Also, it would investigate two other problems - of using electronic tools to provide answers to examinees, and test paper leaks as a result of which test-takers were provided with answers before entering the examination halls.
The source from the Justice Ministry said each set of leaked test papers cost about Bt1 million-Bt2 million.
"Many government agencies had previously created a strict system of storing and delivering test papers. Passwords to open the boxes storing the test papers were sent as e-mails to the invigilators. But they were allowed to open the e-mail to see the password only a day before the exams began. After opening the e-mail and knowing the password, the invigilators must stay in the exam halls under their responsibility and were not allowed to contact outsiders until the exams were finished.
But the Office of the Basic Education Commission decided to send the test papers via postal service as a result they were received at the exam sites a few days before the day of the examination for assistant teachers. So, it was possible that the test papers were leaked during the delivery and storing process at the test sites," the source added.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/03/03/about-500-involved-in-cheating-at-test-for-job-of-assistant-teachers/
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