Srinagar, Apr 21: In a shocking revelation, a coaching centre in Srinagar has been caught red-handed for misleading the public by falsely claiming that one of its students secured an extraordinary 99.84 percentile in the JE (Joint Entrance) examination, whereas her actual percentile was only 73.2.
A Kashmir News Trust (KNT) investigation found that ‘SKIE Classes,’ the coaching centre in question, had circulated a tampered PDF version of the student’s scorecard on social media through its affiliated network of Facebook influencers. The doctored score sheet, which showed a significantly inflated percentile, was aggressively pushed online, earning the centre widespread publicity.
However, the scam unraveled when tech-savvy users scanned the QR code embedded in the PDF, which revealed the student’s authentic percentile of 73.2—well below the 94 percentile cut-off required for the JE qualification.
Education experts have strongly condemned the fraudulent act, terming it a serious breach of trust. “This appears to be a calculated move aimed at luring fresh admissions, considering it’s currently the peak season for enrollments,” an education sector analyst told KNT. “Editing a government-issued document is a serious offense. The student could not have done it alone—clearly, the centre orchestrated the entire thing.”
The student, whose identity is being withheld for privacy reasons, was reportedly presented to social media content creators under dubious circumstances—either by coercion or manipulation. These Facebook hawkers filmed and circulated videos celebrating her so-called ‘historic achievement,’ further fueling the deception.
Ironically, the centre described the fabricated percentile as a “historic moment,” exploiting both the innocence of the student and the trust of the public. “A student who herself hasn’t qualified was showcased as a topper,” said the education expert, adding that such conduct highlights how low some coaching institutes can stoop for profit.
Observers also criticized certain media outlets for broadcasting the fake achievement without verification, allegedly in return for monetary favors. “This is not just a case of one student’s score being faked—it’s a glaring example of how educational ethics are being trampled for quick financial gains,” said a parent who had considered enrolling their child at SKIE Classes.
Authorities have been urged to take strict action against the coaching institute, not only for document tampering but also for misleading the public and exploiting the student. “Let this serve as a wake-up call—percentile and percentage are not the same, and fake claims will not go unnoticed,” said another concerned educator.
As public trust in private coaching institutes continues to erode, this incident underscores the urgent need for regulatory oversight and ethical accountability in Kashmir’s private education sector.
When contacted by Kashmir News Trust, an official from the coaching centre claimed that the student’s parents had informed them of an alleged discrepancy in the QR code-linked result and had reportedly received an email from the National Testing Agency (NTA) confirming a 99.84 percentile. He urged the news agency to hold off on publishing the report until the matter was clarified. When confronted with the allegation of misleading the public, the official responded that they initially received a screenshot reflecting the 99.84 percentile, followed by a PDF document showing the same score.[KNT]
