A disturbing new report has emerged from the much-hyped Dravidian Model state of Tamil Nadu, about the alarming practice of primary school teachers appointing fake substitutes to cover their classes while paying these impostors out of their own pockets. Tamil Nadu currently has 34,855 primary schools and 9,248 middle schools.
According to report by Kumudam, the issue first came to light when K. Balaji, a teacher at Ramiyampatti Middle School in Dharmapuri’s Arur Education District, was found to be frequently absent from work. It was later revealed that he had arranged for another person to take his place in the classroom during his absence. The Kumudam report alleges that its investigations have revealed a troubling trend in many schools, particularly those with only one or two teachers on staff. These schools are reportedly hiring “fake teachers” as stand-ins for their regular educators. In many cases, these substitute teachers are paid by the original teachers themselves, who also bribe local education officers to cover up the malpractice and avoid detection.
This problem appears to be most common in “one-teacher schools,” where a small staff is responsible for managing multiple classes. Out of roughly 11,000 such schools, Kumudam report claims that an estimated 10,000 schools are involved in this deceptive practice.
In response to these troubling revelations, Madhumathi, the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department has allegedly confirmed that the department was aware of the situation and had already taken action in certain cases. For instance, after a similar case emerged at Pammathukulam Panchayat Union Primary School in Tiruvallur, where officials found inflated student numbers, the District Education Officer and the Headmaster were removed from their positions.
Similarly, in Koliyanur, a government-aided school in Viluppuram, the District Education Officer was dismissed after an investigation revealed similar malpractice involving fake student enrollment. Madhumathi stated that following these incidents, a state-wide investigation into the practice of fake teachers had been initiated, and action would be taken against both the teachers and education officials involved in these fraudulent activities.
The widespread practice of hiring fake teachers is a serious blow to the credibility of Tamil Nadu’s education system. Not only does it undermine the integrity of the schooling process, but it also sends a harmful message to students, who are supposed to look up to their teachers as role models. It is imperative that the government takes swift and decisive action to address this issue and restore integrity to the education system. There is a growing public expectation that the authorities will act quickly to bring those responsible to justice and ensure that children in Tamil Nadu receive the education they deserve.
(With Inputs From Kumudam)
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