Editor,

I wish to draw the attention of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and the authorities concerned towards a matter of serious concern for thousands of genuine aspirants in the state - the alleged submission and acceptance of questionable, fraudulent or improperly obtained BEd certificates in recruitment processes.

There is a growing concern among genuine candidates that some individuals may be obtaining BEd certificates from institutions in other states, including West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere, without undergoing the required academic training, regular classes, practical work, teaching practice and other components that form an essential part of a professional teacher-education programme. If such certificates are being presented as valid qualifications and are accepted without adequate verification, it raises a fundamental question: What mechanism is being followed to distinguish a genuinely earned BEd qualification from a certificate obtained through fraudulent or irregular means?

This concern becomes even more serious in light of recent developments in West Bengal. According to reports, the West Bengal Higher Education Department issued show-cause notices to around 450 BEd colleges following inspections that reportedly uncovered major irregularities. The reports also referred to allegations of 'cash-for-degree' practices, with concerns that degrees were allegedly being provided without students undergoing genuine academic training.

The issue is therefore not merely about one recruitment examination or one particular group of candidates. It concerns the credibility of the entire teacher-education system and, ultimately, the quality of education that our children receive.

A BEd degree is not supposed to be merely a piece of paper. It represents professional teacher training. A genuine candidate invests years of study, substantial financial resources, time, effort and energy to obtain the qualification. Such candidates attend classes, complete assignments and practical work, undergo teaching practice and fulfil the academic requirements prescribed by the regulatory authorities.

The NCTE itself recognises specific requirements for teacher-education programmes. In particular, its FAQ on BEd through open and distance learning states that a candidate seeking BEd (ODL) as a trained in-service teacher must already possess an NCTE-recognised teacher-education qualification obtained through face-to-face mode; it specifically mentions candidates who have completed DElEd through face-to-face mode.

Therefore, the authorities must carefully scrutinise not merely whether a certificate exists, but whether the institution, programme, mode of study, eligibility of the candidate, attendance, practical training and other requirements were actually fulfilled.

My question to the APPSC is simple but fundamental:

Å If certificates obtained through fraudulent or irregular means are finding their way into recruitment processes and are being treated at par with genuinely earned qualifications, then what message are we sending to honest aspirants?

Å Should a candidate who has sincerely completed a recognised BEd programme spent years attending classes and fulfilling every requirement, while another person can allegedly obtain a certificate without undergoing the same process?

Å If both are ultimately treated as equivalent without proper verification, then what incentive remains for candidates to follow the legitimate route?

There is also another serious concern that deserves clarification. It is being said that some individuals who are pursuing PhD or MPhil, or who are already involved in other contingency or non-teaching jobs, are simultaneously acquiring BEd certificates. This naturally raises questions about how such candidates are able to fulfil the attendance, practical training, internship and other requirements of a regular BEd programme while simultaneously pursuing these other academic or occupational commitments.

It has also been alleged that some holders of questionable or fake BEd certificates have already been recruited as PGTs in recruitment conducted very recently. If this allegation has any basis, the matter requires immediate and transparent verification because the credibility of the entire recruitment process is at stake.

These questions are not intended to cast suspicion on every candidate possessing a BEd qualification. They are questions of transparency, equal opportunity and the integrity of public recruitment. Genuine candidates deserve to know whether the same eligibility standards and verification procedures are being applied uniformly to everyone.

My question, therefore, becomes even more important:

Å Should genuine aspirants be expected to spend years attending recognised institutions, completing practical training and examinations, while others are allegedly able to acquire BEd certificates through questionable means and still compete for the same posts?

Å If such certificates are ultimately accepted without adequate scrutiny, then should every aspirant simply follow the same fraudulent route? Should honest candidates be encouraged to spend their time, money and energy obtaining qualifications legitimately when questionable certificates may apparently provide the same advantage?

That cannot be the message that a public recruitment system sends to its citizens.

I therefore respectfully urge the APPSC and the authorities concerned to consider:

1. Thorough verification of every BEd certificate submitted for recruitment, particularly certificates from institutions that have been questioned by regulatory or government authorities.

2. Verification of whether the concerned institution was recognised and affiliated for the relevant academic session and whether the particular programme and mode of study were permitted.

3. Verification of the candidate's eligibility, mode of admission, attendance, practical training, internship and other mandatory requirements, wherever applicable.

4. Verification directly with the university/institution concerned and regulatory authorities, rather than relying solely on the physical appearance of a certificate.

5. A clear distinction between genuinely earned qualifications and qualifications obtained through fraudulent or irregular means.

6. If any certificate is subsequently found to have been obtained fraudulently, appropriate action should be taken in accordance with the law and recruitment rules, irrespective of the candidate's position or background.

Most importantly, the commission should make it clear that honesty will not become a disadvantage in public recruitment.

A recruitment system must reward merit, genuine qualifications and integrity. If genuine aspirants begin to believe that acquiring a questionable certificate is easier and more advantageous than pursuing a legitimate professional qualification, the system itself will inadvertently encourage malpractice.

The recent scrutiny of BEd institutions in West Bengal should serve as a warning. Reports indicate that inspections of 602 BEd colleges resulted in show-cause notices being issued to approximately 450 institutions, while several institutions were reportedly found to be non-functional, unaffiliated, or otherwise deficient.

Arunachal Pradesh must therefore ensure that such concerns do not undermine the integrity of its own recruitment system.

My appeal to the APPSC is not to punish genuine candidates, but to protect them. The commission has a responsibility to ensure that a candidate who has honestly earned a qualification is not placed on the same footing as someone who may have obtained a certificate through fraudulent means.

If there is no proper scrutiny, genuine aspirants may eventually lose faith in the system. And when honest candidates lose faith in a recruitment system, it is not merely an individual loss - it is a loss for public institutions and society as a whole.

A teacher is entrusted with shaping the future generation. Therefore, the qualification of a teacher must carry not only academic validity but also credibility and integrity.

I sincerely hope that the APPSC and the authorities concerned will take this matter seriously and establish a transparent, uniform and stringent verification mechanism, so that every genuine candidate receives the justice they deserve.

The question is not whether someone possesses a certificate. The real question is whether that certificate represents genuine education, genuine training and genuine merit.

A concerned aspirant