TURA/SHILLONG: The question papers meant for appointment of teachers were leaked several days before the scheduled date and time of the examination causing embarrassment to the government on Thursday.
The Directorate of Educational Research and Training conducted the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) for appointment of teachers.
Even as candidates sat for the MTET on Thursday hoping to be appointed as LP and UP teachers, the leakage was revealed through an FIR filed at Tura police station on the same day. The government conducted fresh examinations for teachers’ recruitment following the education scam that lingered for almost 10 years.
The High Court had cancelled the earlier appointments due to the scam prompting the Education Department to invite applications afresh.
The leaked question papers were of Environment Studies, Mathematics, Child development and Pedagogy, English Language-II and Language-I (Assamese).
The FIR was filed by Sofi Kamrul Hassan, an advocate in the High Court of Meghalaya after photos of all the question papers flooded WhatsApp prior to the examinations.
“The MTET began today at Tura Government College at 9.30 am and the question papers for the said examination were leaked by some unscrupulous persons much before the scheduled time and date. This will affect chances of honest candidates and is also a criminal offence,” Hassan said in the FIR.
“As an advocate, I am strongly against such manipulations. The authorities concerned should seriously look into the matter and take strong action against the culprits,” he added.
When contacted, police sources said a case has been registered and a thorough investigation into the matter was on.
A police official said there are several links in this case and some links have been established. “We are hopeful of cracking the case,” the official added.
The Opposition Congress criticised the NPP-led MDA government for its failure to conduct a free and fair examination.
“There should be a thorough and independent probe into the matter,” Congress spokesperson and MLA Zenith Sangma said.
Congress legislator from Garo Hills Azad Zaman said the leak exposed the MDA government’s failure to ensure transparency.
