Namangan education officials arrested over organized exam-assistance scheme

A “bunker” organized in one of the homes in Namangan city has been uncovered.

According to the findings, the deputy principal of a general secondary school in Davlatobod district of Namangan region, the head of a department at Namangan Institute of Engineering and Technology, a specialist of that department and several others colluded to provide remote assistance to teachers during test examinations held to assign qualification categories. This assistance was provided for material gain.

During a joint operation carried out by officers of the State Security Service and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes in Namangan city, 12 teachers who had been brought in to solve test questions at the location were identified. Laptops, 30 different types of listening devices and hidden cameras, eight Wi-Fi routers and other items were seized as material evidence.

During pre-investigation checks, it was established that the deputy principal and others had convinced a number of teachers in the region that they could ensure positive exam results, demanding $1,300–1,500 from each. In September–October this year, they collected a total of $25,000.

A criminal case has been initiated against the suspects under Article 168, part 3 (subparagraph “b”), and Articles 28 and 211, part 2 (subparagraph “a”) of the Criminal Code. Investigative actions are under way.

It was noted that the deputy principal of the general secondary school in Davlatobod district and the 2001-born individual who had been running the “bunker” had previously been prosecuted for committing the same type of offence.