EVS undertakes extensive educational and vocational background searches on educators and scrutinizes the credentials of institutes. We compile in-depth reports on educational backgrounds, vocational backgrounds and social media profiles of educators and individuals and, where necessary, inform relevant governing bodies. EVA is also prepared to undertake investigations into organizations purporting to bestow degrees when they are not qualified to do so. We also aim to increase awareness of diploma mills and of unqualified teachers bringing the teaching profession into disrepute in Afro-Eurasian markets.

Schools are in an extremely difficult position when it comes to background checks. They can be time-consuming, unreliable and fraught with difficulty. The main issue is embarrassment, where organizations that discover they have hired an unqualified (or worse, dangerous) educator have no incentive to come out and admit it and may have difficulty dismissing the person in question mid-year as that attracts unwanted attention. Often schools will simply manage the person out of the door at the end of the year and never mention it again. This of course leads to the next school employing this person without knowing there is a problem and going through the same circular process. The natural consequences of this process is damage to the trust built up between students and teachers, while hurting the education profession as a whole.

First, check your information thoroughly before doing anything. Do not simply take someone's word for it, you need clear evidence that someone does not have a qualification or that the institute providing the qualification is bogus. For more information on how to do that see our Investigation Tips section to know more. Second, check if your organization has a whistleblowing policy (sadly, most do not). If your organization has a whistleblowing policy, follow this process to bring attention to the evidence you have collected. This is crucial as it usually gives the reporter some degree of protection. If there is no such policy in place, try to create a paper trail by notifying the person's direct superior in a recorded fashion, such as by email. If the organization still does not act and you believe there is an immiment threat to student safety, you can approach the government's education department in the same manner. It is highly inadvisable to contact parents directly, as it may spur retributive legal action from the person in question or lead to other unexpected severe outcomes.

The costs can vary depending on the case. EVA works with a select group of organizations and will, on occasion, add to this client list where necessary. Pricing is dictated by the urgency of the investigation (typically into an individual), depth of investigation, degree of data protection required and amount of time dedicated to the investigation. Longer term clients typically have every new educator scrutinized thoroughly before arrival which results in the summer being an extremely busy time for EVS.

Contact us on info@educationalvs.org for a quote.