Bhubaneswar, Aug. 31: Teachers appearing for various examinations have been allegedly caught cheating by squads engaged by Board of Secondary Education (BSE).

Para-teachers and ganasikshaks teaching at various government schools in the state are appearing for the Certified Teachers (CT), Distance Education programme for Certified Teachers (DEPCT) and Certified Physical Education Teachers (CPEd) examinations.

Around 21,919 para-teachers are appearing for DEPCT examinations at 127 centres while 10,416 are taking CT examinations at 60 centres and 81 teachers are appearing CPEd exams in 81 centres.

“Most of these teachers have been teaching in various government school for about four or five years. Many got their jobs through the rehabilitation scheme following the death of their kin. On clearing this examination, these untrained teachers would be eligible for the ‘trained teachers’ pay scale,” said Pratibha Sahani, a senior teacher.

Till now, around 868 teachers have already been booked for malpractice by the special squads engaged by the BSE. Besides this, individual centres have constituted their independent squads.

The Unit 9 Boys’ High School here witnessed unruly scenes after the teachers allegedly caught cheating began protesting.

They came out in groups shouting slogans against the squads and school authorities. They alleged that their answer sheets were being snatched away before time and that they were not being provided with additional sheets.

Some women teachers even complained that they were being ‘searched publicly’ on the pretext of checking. The protesting teachers demanded immediate action against the headmaster of the school.

However, Sameer Behera, headmaster of the school, said: “Our internal squad goes for checking after every one hour. We found them copying and did what was directed as per the rules.”

Similar protests were reported from other places such as Mahanga block in Cuttack where the squads sent by the BSE were manhandled and locked up by the teachers.

Meanwhile, board president Satyakam Mishra has warned of disciplinary action against those found engaged in malpractice.

“We are preparing a list of offenders and will send it to SME department after completion of the examinations for subsequent action,” he said.