14 teachers caught with forged certificates in North Central Province

By Dayaratne Embogama   

The service of several teachers in the North Central Province who had forwarded forged education certificates to join the government service have been suspended.   Chief Secretary and Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Education Sirimewan Dharmasena said 14 teachers had been appointed on forged education certificates in the service for varying periods between eight and Twenty five years .   

He said trained teachers and graduate teachers were among them.Investigations had revealed that the GCE Ordinary Level, Advanced Level and degree certificates were forged documents. He said the NCP Public Service Commission had appointed a committee to examine the certificates forwarded by them to join the service and that action was taken to suspend their service on the findings of the committee.   

Ministry Secretary further said several of them had forwarded forged certificates of foreign universities, However he said the teachers concerned could make an appeal to the Governor.   

Meanwhile, President of Ceylon Teachers’ Union Priyantha Fernando said the authorities should have checked the authenticity of the documents prior to confirmation after the probation period.   

He said the teachers who had been confirmed in service and paid a colossal amount as salaries.“ The government has spent for their training and obtained their services. The relevant authorities should be held responsible for their negligence,” he said.