Grade 1 'Appeals' bare more forged documents

by Manjula Fernando

The Appeals Commissioner of the Education Ministry, investigating Grade One admissions objections tendered by parents, have found a disturbing number of admissions to many popular Colombo schools through forged title deeds.

"In the instance of one school in Colombo we have found over 30 such suspected forged deeds," a senior official with the Appeals Commission told the Daily News yesterday.

The Commissioner has referred the suspected documents to the Lands Registrar for verification. He said they were hopeful of releasing the final selection list after appeals from October 15 although the new turn of events has resulted in added work.

Instances of forged deeds were exposed while investigations were conducted into objections tendered by parents whose children were rejected admission to popular schools in 2006.

The Education Ministry started announcing the temporary selection lists to national schools via the education website from July. Subsequently parents whose children failed to gain admission were asked to appeal or file objections against any wrongful selection, within two weeks of the announcement.

"So far we have found forged deeds in respect of about six popular Colombo schools. These include popular girls schools too," he said adding that they were now calling these parents before the Special Appeal Board appointed by the President.

"They will be given an opportunity to present their case. If they admit the offence and choose to remove the child from the temporary selected list, there will not be a problem. But if they insist, the Ministry will have to press charges," the official said, adding that they were empowered by law to take legal action against such instances.