Obec should be probed over exam cheating: panel

Chinnapat

A fact-finding panel has recommended that a probe be launched against Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) secretary general Chinnapat Bhumirat for dereliction of duty, after cheating plagued a recent recruitment exam.

The exam was held to fill positions for Obec assistant teachers.

Headed by Education Ministry permanent secretary Panita Kambhu na Ayutthaya, the fact-finding panel has suggested that Chinnapat, Obec deputy secretary general Anan Ra-ngabtook, former Obec assistant secretary general Suthep Chittayawong, and Suthep Chittayawong, a former director of Obec's Bureau of Personnel Administration Development Management and Legal Affairs, be probed for grave disciplinary offences.

The panel claims the cheating has caused grave damage.

Chinnapat yesterday shrugged off the panel's recommendation.

"Obec is a big agency. The line of command is expansive. So, there's always a risk [of problems]," he said. He said relevant authorities should also take into account that Obec's power was decentralised.

"Otherwise, all executives of big agencies would work with a weary heart in future," Chinnapat said.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is looking into the allegation that hundreds of candidates cheated in the Obec-organised exam, after they achieved unusually high scores. The DSI says it has already found solid evidence against a number of suspects.

Obec is preparing to host another recruitment exam next month. Chinnapat yesterday attended a video conference as part of arrangements for the exam.

"We have set up various committees to monitor the situation and to detect any irregularities," said Chinnapat, adding that public confidence would only be restored with a smoothly-run, cheat-free exam.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/05/21/obec-should-be-probed-over-exam-cheating-panel/