Nguyễn Văn Cừ Primary School in Quy Nhơn Ward. — VNA/VNS Photo

GIA LAI — An investigation has been launched after an English teacher at a primary school in the southern province of Gia Lai was accused of deliberately altering pupils’ exam papers, prompting education authorities to suspend her from teaching duties temporarily.

The Gia Lai Department of Education and Training has held a working session with Nguyễn Văn Cừ Primary School in Quy Nhơn Nam Ward over the case, which involves allegations that the teacher unilaterally changed students’ end-of-semester exam results.

The teacher, identified as T.T.K.N, was accused by parents of intentionally modifying pupils’ papers by turning correct answers into incorrect ones to lower their scores. The incident was later shared on Facebook.

Initial verification by authorities found that nearly 20 test papers from classes 3C and 4B showed signs of tampering, including added strokes to letters or inserted words that altered the original answers.

At the meeting, explaining her behaviour, the teacher said that many pupils in her class achieved high marks in the first semester and she was concerned they "might become complacent in their studies," so she lowered their scores.

Leaders of the Gia Lai Department of Education and Training said the explanation was unreasonable, reflected a flawed viewpoint and was unacceptable.

The provincial education sector has also ordered checks to determine whether the teacher held extra classes or tutoring, and whether the pupils whose marks were lowered attended those sessions.

The Culture and Social Affairs Division of Quy Nhơn Nam Ward concluded that the teacher had altered first-semester test papers for many pupils she directly taught.

The conduct was found to violate the Law on Public Employees, the Law on Teachers and Ministry of Education and Training regulations on teachers’ professional ethics.

The school principal has been instructed to organise a formal review of the teacher to clarify the purpose and severity of the violation.

Based on the review’s findings, further steps will be taken in line with disciplinary procedures for public employees. The handling results must be reported to the People’s Committee of Quy Nhơn Nam Ward before January 30.

The teacher has been temporarily suspended from teaching duties while the investigation continues. — VNS