A sweeping vigilance operation in Kerala has uncovered a deep-rooted corruption network affecting teacher appointments and transfers in aided schools across the state. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), through its special initiative titled “Operation Black Board,” conducted surprise inspections at 55 different offices linked to the General Education Department, revealing systemic malpractice and financial misconduct among officials involved in approving postings and transfers.

The state-wide inspection covered 41 District Education Offices, seven Regional Deputy Director offices responsible for higher secondary education, and another seven Assistant Director offices overseeing vocational higher secondary schools. According to officials, the operation was triggered by credible intelligence suggesting that certain staff members were accepting bribes from teachers and candidates in exchange for processing their files or securing new posts.

Preliminary findings suggest that corrupt officials used a network of intermediaries to mask their involvement. Candidates were reportedly pressured to approach retired education department employees—referred to as “service consultants”—who acted as middlemen. These intermediaries allegedly collected hefty bribes from job seekers and distributed the proceeds among complicit government employees. The VACB noted that even posts reserved for persons with disabilities were being manipulated, with approvals granted despite non-compliance with mandatory norms.

Concrete examples of misconduct surfaced during inspections in several districts:

In Thiruvananthapuram, officials discovered that 11 teachers had been appointed under the Regional Deputy Director’s jurisdiction without following disability reservation regulations.

Financial irregularities were prominent in Alappuzha, where ₹77,500 had been transferred from clerks in two aided schools to a senior clerk in the Kuttanad Education Office through Google Pay. Another clerk in the district received suspicious digital payments amounting to ₹1.40 lakh, for which no legitimate explanation could be given.

Malappuram also witnessed a series of questionable financial transactions. An official accepted ₹2,000 from a teacher, allegedly in return for expedited file processing for a transfer request. Inspectors additionally flagged ₹20,500 worth of unexplained payments made to the same official’s Google Pay account. Unaccounted cash of ₹4,900 was also seized from employees at the district education office during the operation.

Attendance manipulation to retain teaching posts was another malpractice uncovered during inspections. In Kannur, an aided school under the Taliparamba District Education Office was found to have marked attendance for three students who were not enrolled there — including one who was actually studying at a Kendriya Vidyalaya. Meanwhile, in another school under the Thalassery Education Office, records falsely showed 28 students in a class, whereas only nine students were physically present. Investigators determined that the inflated attendance figures were a strategy used to justify the retention of teacher positions that would otherwise be rendered unnecessary.

VACB officials confirmed that the probe has now shifted into its next phase, where the financial trails of the accused will be closely examined. The bank accounts of suspected officials, their family members, and the so-called service consultants are to be scrutinized to uncover the full extent of the corruption. Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham stated that all gathered evidence — including digital payment records — will be analyzed thoroughly to ensure that those involved are held accountable.

“Operation Black Board” has laid bare an alarming erosion of integrity in a sector responsible for shaping the state’s educational foundation. The revelations highlight how loopholes in administrative workflows have been exploited for personal gain, directly affecting the careers of deserving candidates and the proper implementation of reservation policies. They also expose how fraudulent practices — like manipulating student attendance — have compromised transparency and accountability in aided schools.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is expected to recommend stringent corrective measures to prevent further abuse and restore public trust in administrative processes. As investigations continue, more officials may be implicated, and the state government is likely to face increasing pressure to enforce systemic reforms and ensure that the education department operates with fairness and legality.

With the findings now public, the case underscores the ongoing challenge of corruption within essential public services and reinforces the need for strict oversight to protect the education system’s integrity.