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Poor performance in key subjects at O/L examination

by Manjula Fernando

The number of failure in Science, English and Mathematics subject at the GCE Ordinary Level examination has been alarmingly high during the past several years. This was revealed at a symposium organised at the Education Ministry recently. An evaluation of overall performance of students at the O/L examination for the past five years has shown that there has been a significant drop in the performance in the most important subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science.

The percentage of students who can proceed to Advanced Level has, however, increased to 42% in 2002 from the 37% in the previous year. According to the statistics tabled at the symposium, last year 330,835 students sat for the English paper out of which only 78,876 (24%) passed. Out of over 325,000 who sat for the mathematics paper only 130,267 (40%) got through. 55% passed science and technology out of nearly 385,000 students.

Education Minister Karunasena Kodituwakku who presided over the symposium instructed ministry officials to find the reasons for the repeatedly poor performance of students over the years.

During the deliberations as to the possible reasons it was revealed that students with poor curricular records also get promoted to the next grade at the end of the year. This would contribute significantly to the overall O/L results. Other points raised were failure on the part of the management, unorganised teacher transfer methods followed by Provincial Councils, disparities in teacher distribution and important subjects not being given adequate periods of study.

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