Malappuram: Government schools across Kerala have been ordered to enforce mandatory police background checks for all temporary staff, following a drug scandal involving members of the teaching profession.

Under renewed directives issued by the education authorities, candidates seeking temporary positions, including teaching roles, must produce an official Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) prior to employment. Whilst the requirement was technically already in place, it had largely fallen out of practice during short-term recruitment drives. Headteachers have now been instructed to ensure strict compliance with immediate effect.

The crackdown follows a high-profile incident in Vadakara, where teachers were implicated in a case involving the synthetic drug MDMA. To ensure prospective candidates are fully aware of the requirement, all job advertisements and recruitment notices issued by state schools must now explicitly state that police vetting is compulsory.

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In addition to background checks, authorities have tightened governance surrounding financial management within state schools and regional administrative offices. Under the new measures, casual or temporary staff are strictly prohibited from handling official banking duties; such responsibilities must be delegated solely to designated permanent staff members.

Heads of establishment are now required to audit and sign off on school bank accounts on the final working day of each month, with official mobile numbers directly tied to institutional accounts to monitor transactions in real time.