‘World class’ ministry – or world class mockery?

If the Education Ministry refers to itself as “world class”, then it should reveal the truth and stop beating around the bush, demandsLeena Mohan.

As the news broke about the Maths and the Tamil UPSR exam papers being declared null and void yesterday due to further leaks, I wonder how our world class Education Ministry officials can still make absurd press statements with a straight face.

Apology after apology, but there is a total lack of accountability on the part of the Education Ministry. The 14 detained and released on bail are reportedly 12 teachers, an insurance agent and an engineer.

I want to know the source of the leak and the people at the Education Ministry, the Examinations Board and other officials who have been involved in corruption and cheating.

It appears that teachers, an insurance agent and an engineer have been taken to task. Did they break into the vaults to steal the hard copies of the exam paper? Or did they hack into the Ministry’s computer system to steal soft copies of the exam paper?

If the Education Ministry refers to itself as “world class”, reveal the truth and stop beating around the bush and skirting around issues. Get to the bottom of the issue and tell us which Education Ministry official(s) sold the information.

A “world class” ministry should be more than capable of conducting a world class investigation. The antics of the Education Ministry have definitely not gone down well well with the affected 12-year-old students. And instead of the wrong-doing being corrected, the situation has deteriorated.

What next? Will there be another report lodged that the BM papers have also leaked?

Perhaps it is only a matter of time before we hear of the next leak and fiasco.

Leena Mohan is an Aliran member based in Penang. ALIRAN