School term tests: Ministry reverts to old formula

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

The mechanism of conducting school term tests and year-end tests, which was introduced by the Education Ministry last year has come to a halt by now.

Under that system the question papers were prepared for the whole country by the Education Ministry.

The Education Ministry commenced carrying out the term tests last year considering weaknesses that prevailed in the then term test system.

Accordingly, the Education Ministry issued the same examination paper to all students in the country, discontinuing the earlier practice of issuing various examination papers at provincial, zonal and school levels.

It had been revealed that several financial frauds had occurred since some schools collected money to prepare examination papers.

The Education Ministry ensured the quality and the standard of the examination paper while regulating the examination system by introducing this mechanism.

Even though the earlier examination mechanism carried out by the Ministry brought benefits for the school system, it has come to a halt this year.

As a result, the second term test for this year is now being organized on a provincial, zonal and school basis throughout the country.

Therefore the examination papers vary from school to school and the standards also vary.

Students will also have to pay for examination papers.