The Higher Secondary Department of Kerala has placed two teachers, including the Principal, of the Neeleswaram Government Higher Secondary School in Mukkam, Kozhikode district, under suspension for malpractice during the class 12 board examinations.

As per the inquiry by the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (HSE), Nishad V Mohammad, the computer science teacher of the school wrote the English paper for two students. He also corrected the 32 Computer Science answer sheets of the students of his school to help them secure a higher score.  According to reports, Nishad was also the Additional Deputy Chief of examination of the school.

The impersonation and evaluation malpractice was carried out with the knowledge the Principal of the school, K Rasiya, who has also been placed under suspension.

Another teacher, PK Faizal of the Chennamangallur Higher Secondary School, was also suspended as he was the Deputy Chief of examination at the Neeleswaram HSS.

The malpractice was discovered by chance as several answer sheets had the same handwriting. When the answer sheets of different subjects of the same students were compared, Directorate of Higher Secondary Education officials realised that the students had not written the answers.

Also, incidentally, the matter came to light a few days after the Class 10 exam results were announced in the state.

Speaking to TNM, a police officer from Mukkam Police station in Kozhikode said that the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education has not filed any complaint.

“We have not received any complaint regarding this matter yet. We will probe the case after receiving an official complaint,” the officer added.

A department inquiry into the issue will take place and the students, if found innocent, will be given another chance to attempt the examination.

Jayasree TV, Director of HSE told TNM, "The Regional Director of the district has been instructed to file the complaint at the police station in the jurisdiction where the school is located. The Director General of Police has also been asked to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter."

The accused, Nishad, had initially stated that he was writing the exam to help students with learning disabilities and not for monetary gains. However, according to reports, the Directorate of HSE said that the school did not undertake any procedures that are to be followed for students with learning disabilities.

The results of the students, for whom Nishad wrote the exam, have been withheld.