Fake qualifications to climb school rankings: 12 investigated, blitz between Foggia and Caserta

It is an investigation that is shaking the world of education that ended with the issuing of 12 precautionary measures by the investigating judge of the Court of Foggia, at the request of the local Prosecutor's Office.

The charges are serious: complicity in ideological falsity in public documents, unlawful practice of the profession and personal favouritism. According to investigators, the three main suspects - a lawyer from the Foggia bar, her teacher husband and a director of a private institute in the province of Caserta – allegedly orchestrated a system of false certifications and declarations, attesting to non-existent employment relationships with a private school in Caserta. The incriminating documents, including Unilav certificates and communications, referred to the years from 2018 to 2023 and were allegedly used to obtain additional points in the rankings.

Thanks to these false attestations, nine people would have climbed the provincial rankings for teaching, obtaining positions of advantage over other candidates. The investigation, which began in August 2023 on the initiative of the Stornarella Carabinieri, was initiated following anonymous reports and concluded in May 2024, revealing a dense network of irregularities.

The director of the private institute of Caserta, according to the prosecution, would have played a key role, issuing false declarations and certificates on teaching activities never carried out, thus helping candidates in acquiring scores that were decisive for access to the rankings.