Bhubaneswar: Following the allegations relating to submission of fake certificates by some teachers during recruitment, Odisha Mass Education Department has issued some strict guidelines to curb the menace.
In a letter to the Director of Elementary Education, Odisha and all District Education Officers (DEO)s , the department said that the fake certificates issue need to be resolved and it needs 'stringent action and calls for weeding out such unworthy teachers from the system of elementary education in the State'.
"It has been decided to take the following steps (mentioned below) to identify and weed out the teachers engaged on the basis of fake certificates during the process of engagement of Sikshya Sahayaks now re-designated as Junior Teacher (Contractual) and during regularisation of Junior Teachers," the letter read.
A special drive will be started by all DPCs and BEOs for verification of the academic and training certificates of institutions / boards/ universities situated outside the State (except KVS. NVS, IGNOU and RIE), which have been submitted by the candidates during the process of engagement as Junior Teacher (Contractual).
In the first stage, verification of certificates will be made for the teachers/ Junior Teacher (Contractual) engaged /regularised from 01.01.2011 onwards.
The DPCs of SSA will scrutinize the certificates of the JT(C) & JTs and in case of regular teachers and Level-V (ex-cadre) teachers, the BEOs concerned will scrutinize the same at their level.
Besides, the verification of the certificates those relate to the institutions/boards/ universities situated outside the State (except KVS, NVS, IGNOU & RIE) shall be done on the following basis:
(a) The affiliation certificate of the school/college/institution from a recognized Board/ University.
(b) The equivalency certificate of the course with that of any board or university in Odisha.
(c) The affiliation certificate of the university from NCTE (in case of B.Ed.)
The DPCs and the BEOs concerned will scrutinize the certificates and mark sheets minutely and intimate the status report to the Director, Elementary Education.
Moreover, a State level committee will be constituted to monitor the said operation in each district and will also take decision regarding verification of the certificates in respect of the Universities situated outside the State If required, officers will be deputed to the said Universities to ascertain the genuineness of the certificates.
Any allegation received from any individual / institution pertaining to such activity by any teacher who has been engaged prior to the 2011 will also be verified in the similar way and a certificate to the effect of its genuineness will be submitted by the concerned authority as decided above. The allegations those are in the stage of enquiry will be pursued and a certificate to the effect of its genuineness will also be submitted by the concerned authorities
7 If any such fake certificate will be found to be submitted by any JT(C)/JT/regular teacher/Level-V(ex-cadre) teacher, immediate steps will be taken to file FIR against the person concerned and necessary disciplinary action will be taken for his/her disengagement/ dismissal following due procedure This action will be taken by the BEOs in case of regular and Level-V (ex-cadre) teachers and DPCs in case of JT(C)s & JTs, the letter read.
Meanwhile, the DPCs and BEOs have been ordered to complete the verification process within three months or September 30.