A/L exam from August 5 to 31

Disna Mudalige

The Education Ministry yesterday announced the Advanced Level Examination 2013 will be held from August 5-31.

Addressing a press conference at the ministry premises yesterday, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said 293,117 students have applied to sit for the A-L examination this year. He also said the Grade 5 scholarship examination has been scheduled for August 25. He said 328,714 students have applied for the grade 5 scholarship examination this year.

He said all preconditions have been set to hold these two examinations in a fair and transparent manner. He said the Examination Department has taken necessary measures to conduct the examinations in a proper and systematic method.

The Minister also said the newly imposed regulation to prohibit exam oriented classes, seminars, public lectures, workshops, discussions etc five days prior to the examination should be strictly adhered to this year. Accordingly, all such exam oriented private or public classes, lectures etc should be concluded by the end of July.

He said conducting such classes or even distributing exam oriented handouts or notes after that period is considered an offense under the Examination Act. He requested the public to inform the Examinations Commissioner General of such offenses if reported. He said the Police would be asked to immediately act against such attempts on the direction of the Examinations Commissioner General.

Gunawardena further said no lecturer or specialist involved in the making of examination papers has permission to participate in seminars or lectures anywhere in the country. He said it would also be considered as an offense, adding that if found guilty, action would be taken against them.

He said they have received information that some private parties to attract large crowds mislead the children saying lecturers involved in the compilation of exam papers would be attending seminars, workshops etc.

He also said the special Parliamentary Consultative Committee appointed to assist the formulation of a National Education Policy has come up with a report that includes the observations and suggestions of about 1000 experts and specialists in the field. The minister said the report would be presented to the Cabinet and Parliament shortly, and thereafter a wide public discussion will be facilitated on them.

He said no past regime in Sri Lanka had invested so much money at once for development of the education field, adding that about Rs 40 billion has presently been invested in various large scale projects in the education sector.

Meanwhile, paying attention to a question raised by a journalist, the minister also ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the admission of students to the Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya in Colombo. He asked the officials to inform him the outcome of the investigation by completing it within two weeks.