Bargarh: Amid the controversy surrounding the recruitment of fake teachers in Bargarh district, the district Education department, after a long silence, has initiated steps to investigate the matter. Following the direction of District Education Officer (DEO) Radhakanta Chhatri, the Block Education Officers (BEOs) have started the verification process in their respective blocks. The certificate verification of teachers employed in Bargarh block has started at Samaleswari Government High School in Ambapali. The verification process of certificates including appointment letters, educational degrees, caste and disability certificates, began last week and will continue till August 30.
During the investigation, credentials of teachers appointed during the tenure of the late Kailash Guru, the former chairman of the Sambalpur Education Board, were checked. Meanwhile, there have been reports of individuals identifying themselves as media representatives and claiming connections with influential leaders and officials to intimidate some teachers by labeling them as fake. Such individuals have been calling the teachers over the phone and even visiting their schools or residences. They have been allegedly extorting large sums of money by issuing threats to expose them as fake teachers. The harassed teachers have asked the administration to take action against the so-called media representatives.