Fake Credentials in Schools: How Common and How Avoidable?

When a Teacher’s Certificate Turns Out to Be Fake

In September, The Times of India reported a shocking case from Rajasthan: a government school teacher, days away from retirement, was dismissed after it was revealed that his B.Ed certificate was forged. Imagine the ripple effect—an entire career built on a lie, and generations of students taught by someone who never had the qualifications they claimed.

It’s not just a Rajasthan story. Across states, incidents of forged teaching degrees have surfaced, sometimes uncovered in audits, other times through whistleblowers. Every time this happens, parents feel a shiver: If this can happen there, how do I know who’s teaching my child?

The Problem: Trust on Shaky Ground

For parents, the trust equation with schools is already strained: fees climb, infrastructure promises remain half-met, and now the question of basic teacher qualifications comes into play.

In a reply to Parliament in December 2018 (Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3135), the Ministry of Human Resource Development acknowledged the problem of fake degrees and certificates, but clarified that data on such cases, especially among teachers, is not centrally maintained. The Ministry noted that state governments and universities are responsible for verifying credentials and taking action when fraud is detected.

Many state Departments of Education have struggled to implement strong credential-verification systems. Background checks are often one-time at appointment, with little follow-up.

The fallout is clear: every fake degree erodes public confidence in schools. And for parents paying lakhs in fees or entrusting children to government schools, it feels like betrayal.

What Parents Should Know

Here are practical steps every parent can take:

1. Insist on Verified Credentials

Schools are legally required to appoint teachers with recognized qualifications (B.Ed, D.El.Ed, or state-mandated degrees). Parents have the right to ask if these have been verified with the issuing university.

2. Ask About Background Checks

Does the school conduct police verification and ongoing credential audits? A one-time check years ago isn’t enough.

3. Use RTI and Public Norms

Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, you can request details on teacher appointments in government schools. For CBSE schools, affiliation bye-laws (2018) explicitly state that schools must employ qualified teachers and keep proof of credentials on record. State Departments of Education often publish their norms online.

A SchoolDoor Point of View: Ongoing, Transparent Audits

At SchoolDoor, we believe the solution isn’t just one-time verification, it’s ongoing transparency. Just like fee structures are reviewed annually, staff qualifications should be openly published and periodically re-verified.

A credential audit every 3–5 years could weed out fraud.

Schools should share a staff qualification summary (without personal data) with parents at the start of every academic year.

A parent body or independent committee could act as observers in the verification process.

Transparency doesn’t just prevent fraud; it builds trust. And trust is the foundation of learning.

The Way Forward: Parents as Stakeholders

Fake certificates don’t just expose loopholes; they reveal how passive parents have been made in the process. We don’t have to accept it. Schools work best when parents ask the right questions and insist on accountability.

👉 Your next step: At your next PTA or parent interaction, ask your principal:

“Can the school share a published summary of teacher qualifications and verification status?”

It’s a small question that can make a big difference.