A/L paper marking:

Tough line on teacher unions

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

COLOMBO: The Department of Examination took a tough stand yesterday on teacher unions disrupting the evaluation of A/L answer scripts by warning of arrests of saboteurs.

“Any person who disrupts the marking process or any other examination duties can be taken into custody under the powers vested into the Commissioner General of Examination by the Examination Act Number 25 of 1968,” Department sources said.

According to these sources, those disrupting the scrutiny of answer scripts could be arrested without a warrant and be kept in remand custody for 14 days under the power vested in the Commissioner General of Examination by the Examination Act.

The paper marking process commenced on Monday at 83 marking centres throughout the country. The process is scheduled to be carried out in three stages. In the first stage 33 centres have been selected for evaluation. Thereafter 28 centres have been picked for marking in the second stage while the third stage will figure 22 paper marking centres.

On the advice of the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, the Commissioner General of Examination has taken steps to provide Police protection to paper marking centres aiming to ensure a smooth process.

The Commissioner has been advised to implement the provisions of the Examination Act against any person or group who engages in disruptive acts.

Further the Examination sources pointed out that the decision of some teachers unions to boycott the paper marking is not an industrial dispute. The paper marking process is carried out by an agreement between the Commissioner General of Examination and the teachers.

Meanwhile, Examinations Department sources said if the A/L paper marking cannot be completed within the stipulated period, it would affect the G.C.E O/L examination for which preparations begin next month. It would also affect the release of results of the Year 5 Scholarship Examination.