The Education Ministry on Wednesday asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to investigate suspected cheating in its recent teacher recruitment examination.

Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanich met with DSI chief Tarit Pengdith and handed him documents and other materials related to the cheating. Mr Sermsak said he wants the DSI to launch an investigation and prosecute all those involved in the scandal.

The case involves misconduct and cheating in an entrance examination organised on Jan 13 by the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) to recruit 2,000 teachers nationwide, he said.

Mr Sermsak set up a committee to gather facts and supporting evidence. The panel found three types of cheating: leaking of question papers and answer sheets for sale, use of communication devices, and hiring an alternate, stand-in or proxy to take the  examination.

It also found a gang appeared to be involved in the cheating with remarkable similarities to the group discovered in a similar scandal at last year’s police recruitment examination.

The deputy minister alleged that ministry officials were involved in the cheating.  

Mr Tarit said he had accepted the case and instructed Thanin Prempree, director of the DSI's corruption prevention and suppression centre, to begin a probe immediately, and report progress to Mr Sermsak within 15 days.