Teachers are appointed according to their test results on the State Personnel Examination (KPSS). The fact that around 3,200 people answered most or all of the questions on the test correctly -- a first in Turkey -- has led to allegations that some of the candidates cheated during the test or obtained the questions ahead of the exam. Some of the most successful test takers were either married to each other or were friends sharing the same house, which some argue increases the likelihood that they cheated. The appointments will not take place until the allegations of cheating are cleared up.
The decision to delay the appointments was made public following a meeting of Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu and Higher Education Board (YÖK) President Yusuf Ziya Özcan on Monday evening.
“The data and documents at hand state that no irregularity was found in the 2010 KPSS educational sciences test. The issue has been referred to a Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and the cancellation of the entire KPSS is not necessary. An investigation by YÖK’s Supervisory Board has not been completed yet. However, as a result of the evidence given in a preliminary report of the investigation, there is a possibility that the situation will affect all test results. Until the situation is cleared up, we have decided to delay the appointments indefinitely,” a written statement released following the meeting read.
The Ministry of Education previously announced that 30,000 teachers will be appointed according to their KPSS test results. Özcan said he did not know when the investigation would be completed but stressed that they are working as fast as possible.
