Fake Certificates: 177 Teachers to Lose Jobs in First Phase
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
The Ministry of Education has launched an unprecedented crackdown against MPO-listed teachers in non-government educational institutions who secured jobs using fake or forged certificates. Out of 733 teachers and staff members identified nationwide with fake certificates through an investigation by the Directorate of Inspection and Audit (DIA), the process to terminate 177 in the first phase has been finalized.
At the same time, authorities have begun the process of recovering Tk 5.664 billion in salaries and allowances unlawfully drawn from the state exchequer during their service period. If the money is not refunded, the accused may face financial recovery lawsuits in money courts as well as criminal cases.
As part of the education administration’s zero-tolerance policy against fake certificate holders, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and the Directorate of Madrasah Education took this initial punitive action over the weekend (May 23 and 24), even though educational institutions remained closed.
As part of the move, 63 school and college teachers and 114 madrasa teachers have been served show-cause notices with a 10-day ultimatum for termination and cancellation of MPO benefits. Action against fake certificate holders under the Technical Education Directorate will begin after the Eid holidays, officials said.
According to the final investigation report of the DIA, a total of 733 teachers were found to have fake certificates in two phases. Of them, a list of 471 school and college-level teachers was sent to the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education on April 16, recommending final action against them.
On April 27, the agency sent information on 262 fake certificate holders to the Madrasah and Technical Education Division, also recommending action. It has recommended the recovery of nearly Tk 5 billion from them. Among the 262, 251 had fake teacher registration certificates, while the remaining 11 used forged BPED, B.Ed, or library science certificates.
DIA data shows that most of the fraud at the school and college level involved computer training certificates, affecting 229 teachers. Fake NTRCA or teacher registration certificates were used by 194 teachers, while others used forged B.Ed, BPED, and library science certificates. Authorities have sought recovery of Tk 664 million from these 471 teachers as salaries and allowances.
Officials said that under the existing MPO policy 2025 for non-government educational institutions, the accused teachers will first face cancellation of their appointments and final dismissal. Based on DIA recommendations, the total Tk 5.664 billion received as salaries and allowances will then be recovered for the state exchequer. If they fail to repay, financial recovery cases will be filed in money courts. Their MPO benefits will be permanently suspended, and their names will be erased from government databases.
Following this, criminal cases will be filed against those involved in cheating the state through forgery, subject to approval from the ministry. Administrative action may also be taken against governing body members who knowingly appointed such teachers.
DIA Director Professor MM Shahidul Islam said that a full report on teachers employed with fake certificates has been sent to the relevant divisions, along with recommendations to stop salaries and recover funds. He added that the ministry will now take further action.
