Witnesses in cheating case face threats

Key witnesses in the case related to cheating in the recruitment exams for assistant teachers have complained that they are facing threats and intimidation.

"They will need protection," the Education Ministry's inspector general Pisanu Tulsuk said yesterday.

He hoped the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) would give the case special status so witness-protection measures can be introduced.

The DSI found evidence showing several officials involved in the scheme, including two high-ranking ones at the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec).

Due to solid evidence of cheating, the Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Commission will decide today on whether to invalidate the exam results. The DSI has recommended invalidation in four to five educational service areas where there is clear evidence of cheating.

The Education Ministry, however, believes only those who cheated should be disqualified.

Pisanu also believes that the cheating did not just take place in a handful of educational service areas.

"Available evidence suggests that the cheating might have taken place in as many as 129 educational service areas," he said.

The Education Ministry suspected that the cheating might have plagued the recruitment exams for assistant teachers after more than 500 test takers scored unusually high marks.

Obec secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat said his office would set up another five fact-finding committees to investigate the alleged cheating in 10 more educational service areas.

"For the sake of transparency, we will appoint outsiders to the committees," he said.