Move to free students from last minute seminars, workshops:

Week’s respite before exams

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

Students sitting for examinations in the future will not be harassed by various examination targeted educational activities, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. “Students preparing for examinations will be given a week’s respite immediately before sitting the examination.

During the period, the Education Ministry will not allow anyone to carry out examination related educational activities such as seminars, workshops, revision classes etc as they would tend to confuse students sitting the examination,” the minister said.

He said this measure will be taken by the Education Ministry as a remedy to do away with examination malpractices. “During the respite, even private tuition classes will not be allowed,” Gunawardena said.

The minister said the Examinations Department conducts three main examinations - the Grade Five Scholarship Examination, the GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations.

“The respite period will basically be imposed for these three main examinations,” he said.

Asked why such a decision was taken, the minister said various examination related malpractices are reported immediately prior to the three examinations.“Private tutories conduct examination targeted seminars and workshops just before exams boasting that they are discussing examination papers,” he said.were also present.