LUCKNOW, May 24 -- Following the dismissal of 20 assistant teachers in Kushinagar for using fake academic documents, the Uttar Pradesh education department has initiated a state-wide verification of appointments made under the 2018 Assistant Teacher Recruitment Examination (ATRE), officials said on Saturday. The dismissal, formalised through a government order issued on May 21, flagged discrepancies in the academic records of the teachers.

"We have written a letter to all 75 basic shiksha adhikaris (BSAs) of the state," said Kanchan Verma, director general, school education, on Saturday. "Kushinagar responded swiftly, resulting in cancellation of 20 appointments. Other districts have now been asked to begin verification."

Verma said the...