The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has found the recent nationwide assistant-teacher recruitment examination involved imposters and the leaking of exam papers and answers in four northeastern provinces.
DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith told the media yesterday that investigators found the exam in the area under the jurisdiction of the Khon Kaen Primary Educational Service Area Office 3 involved imposters sitting the exam, leaked answers and some applicants memorising leaked answers.
The exam in the area under the Udon Thani Primary Educational Service Area Office 3 involved leaked answers and the signalling of leaked answers with communication devices, Mr Tarit said.
The exam in the area under the Yasothon Primary Educational Service Area Office 1 involved some applicants taking leaked answers into their exam rooms.
The exam in the Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Educational Service Area Office 2 involved some applicants memorising leaked answers.
Mr Tarit said the DSI also found that among the 9,242 applicants who passed the exam 486 applicants attained unusually high scores.
He proposed the Education Ministry nullify the results of the Jan 13 examination in those areas and exams of those applicants with unusually high scores.
Mr Tarit said the cheating involved some central and regional officials together with some applicants, as seats had been rearranged to help some applicants cheat. They had also been trained to use communication devices on Jan 10, and leaked answers had been delivered on the eve of the exam date.
If the DSI's special case committee agrees at its next meeting on March 27 to handle the exam cheating case, the DSI will ask the Education Ministry to file a complaint so it can launch an in-depth investigation.
The department has drawn up a list of people to be questioned.
Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Karun said the initial results of the DSI probe were consistent with the information that his ministry had obtained.
He said some applicants had been directed to sit the exam in remote areas where vacant positions were available for them.