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Qualified school academics as examination staff

by Manjula Fernando

Qualified and experienced school academics will be appointed as examination staff for GCE Ordinary Level, Advanced Level and grade five scholarship examinations in future.

On the instructions of Education Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, the Examinations Department is now calling for fresh applications from experienced teachers with a view to create a permanent pool of invigilators, exam centre supervisors and coordinators.

"The Selection of teachers for this 'pool' will be made on a special points scheme to ensure only the most qualified and experienced candidates can make their way through to this special pool," an Education Ministry spokesman said.

The Department has already posted applications to the Zonal Education officers who will be in charge of selections based on the guidelines issued by the Commissioner General.

The decision has also been taken to prevent the same privileged group of teachers enjoying the opportunity for exam duty every year, following complaints received by the Education Ministry from discriminated staffers.

Earlier, the selection was made by the Department on the recommendation of school principals and Zonal Education officers giving room for a lot of malpractices and favouritism, the spokesman said.

Examinations Commissioner General Mahinda Wijesiri said they have already posted application forms to Zonal Education Officers to be distributed among teachers who are interested in applying for this 'pool' along with a set of guidelines on how to make selections. The Zonal office is required to submit a copy of each application received to the Exams Department for cross checking if necessary.

Over 25,000 teachers are deployed for GCE OL examination as invigilators, examination supervisors plus additional staff at the coordinating centres where distribution and collection of question papers are made, each year. The number of staff deployed at the AL's is around 12,000.

There has been complaints that the same group of people get selected for exam duty all the time where a substantial allowance is paid at the end of their job.

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