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Aug 14, 2009
Jailed for altering answers <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Khushwant Singh </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
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Shanthi was suffering from depression at the time of the offence. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
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A TAMIL language teacher, who altered the examination scripts of three pupils to improve their answers, was jailed for two months on Friday.
Sentencing Shanthi Krishnasamy to two months in prison, District Judge May Mesenas said she must be taught a lesson that teachers need to uphold the integrity of the education system.
She added that Singapore was a meritocratic society where students are judged by their performance in examinations and cheating cannot be tolerated. The 40-year-old teacher blinked away tears as judgement was passed. Pressing for a deterrent sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ramu Miyapan said such action could erode public confidence in the education system and the teaching profession. Shanthi's lawyer Subhas Anandan, arguing that the dignity of the teaching profession had not been harmed, said the offence was not rampant and was the first of its kind here. He said leniency was called for as Shanthi was suffering from depression at the time of the offence.
She had had three miscarriages before giving birth, and in 2001, her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Mr Subhas added that Shanthi had no previous criminal record and had also pleaded guilty at the first hearing in March so as not to waste the court's time. He asked the court to show compassion and impose a jail term of not more than 1 � months. The prosecution had asked for no less than three months.
Aug 14, 2009
Jailed for altering answers <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Khushwant Singh </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
Shanthi was suffering from depression at the time of the offence. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
</td></tr> </tbody></table>
A TAMIL language teacher, who altered the examination scripts of three pupils to improve their answers, was jailed for two months on Friday.
Sentencing Shanthi Krishnasamy to two months in prison, District Judge May Mesenas said she must be taught a lesson that teachers need to uphold the integrity of the education system.
She added that Singapore was a meritocratic society where students are judged by their performance in examinations and cheating cannot be tolerated. The 40-year-old teacher blinked away tears as judgement was passed. Pressing for a deterrent sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ramu Miyapan said such action could erode public confidence in the education system and the teaching profession. Shanthi's lawyer Subhas Anandan, arguing that the dignity of the teaching profession had not been harmed, said the offence was not rampant and was the first of its kind here. He said leniency was called for as Shanthi was suffering from depression at the time of the offence.
She had had three miscarriages before giving birth, and in 2001, her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Mr Subhas added that Shanthi had no previous criminal record and had also pleaded guilty at the first hearing in March so as not to waste the court's time. He asked the court to show compassion and impose a jail term of not more than 1 � months. The prosecution had asked for no less than three months.
