Thiruvananthapuram: A higher secondary schoolteacher in Kerala’s Kozhikode district has been suspended along with two other staff, in an incident that has shocked educational and social circles in the state.

The incident of the teacher, identified as Nishad V. Mohammad of the Mukkom Neeleswaram Government High School, allegedly writing examinations on behalf of two students came to light this week after examiners at a valuation camp grew suspicious about similar handwriting in multiple answer sheets.

When different answer sheets had similar handwriting, the evaluators alerted authorities and a cross-check of the students’ answer sheets showed malpractice had been committed.

Ironically, the matter comes to light only a few days after the Class 10 examination results in Kerala were announced, revealing a pass percentage as high as 98.11.

When questioned, Mohammad initially said he was only helping students with learning disabilities. But the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education dismissed that argument, pointing out that the school where the incident took place, had not undertaken any procedures that are to be followed for students with learning disabilities.

In another irony, Mohammad was also the additional deputy chief of examinations. He now faces charges of impersonation. P.K. Faizal of the Chennamangalur Government Higher Secondary School, who was the examination deputy chief, and K. Razia, principal of the Neeleswaram Government Higher Secondary School, who was the examination chief superintendent, have also been suspended.

It is alleged that Mohammad wrote the English language examination for two students. In addition, it was found that the answer sheets of 32 students were corrected.

Police will also investigate whether the teacher ‘helped’ the students for any monetary considerations.

Academician and public health activist, B. Ekbal expressed shock at the incident. Writing in a local newspaper, he commented that the incident reflected the “depth of the loss of values in the teaching profession”, adding that it should be noted that it did not happen in a private school, but a well-known government institution.

In another twist to the incident, one of the students who is alleged to have been ‘helped’ by the accused teacher, told local media that he had never even spoken to the accused teacher and that he was dejected that his results were withheld.