Grade Five Scholarship examination:

'Consistency and concentration pay dividends'

By Ananda Agalakada

Sandaru Thathsara

Kavindiya Gimhani

Heshan Chanuka

Jinali Vidulanka

Nuransi Roneth

Thamidu De Silva

Sajini Sadisna

Shenuka Dulanjana

Isuru Kelum

The Grade 5 scholarship examination is considered to be the first hurdle that present day children have to clear in order to pursue a good education. More than students it is the parents who are eager to stampede their way and push their children to prepare for the examination to get them into better schools. However, results of past grade 5 scholarship examination reveal that the pass out rate is rather low. This time around out of 3322,455 students who sat the examination, only 32,617 have passed, by obtaining a minimum of 70 marks. Barely 10-12 percent of the candidates obtained marks above the cut off point, during the last few years.

The Sunday Observer spoke to some of the Scholars

Sandaru Thathsara Balahewa of Mahinda College, Galle who came first in the grade 5 scholarship examination obtaining 198 Marks in 2013 was focussed and determined that he would pass the examination with flying colours.

Thathsara had earlier predicted that he would get 198 when he met his class teacher, Dimuthu Lakmali just after he sat the examination. True to his word he had got exactly what he had told his teacher. Thathsara's teacher did not doubt what her pupil told her that day because she had figured out the talent and ability that he possessed.

Thathsara's victory was a dream come true for his parents ,Harish Kumara Balahewa, a purchasing manager of Lanka Salt Company and Kumuduni Wicramasuriya,an engineer of the Road Development Authority in Galle. Thathsara is the third in the family. Imasha and Pabasara are his two sisters who are older to him.

They live in Dangedara Galle and Thathsara's parents only wish was to give him a good education and thus sent him to Mahinda College, Galle. With this achievement the first step in their dream has come true.

Thathsara not only excels in studies but is also talented in art. He has won many accolades for drawing including international competitions and first place island wide.

Music is another area that Thathsara had shown his ability. Besides being in the college music team, he has participated in several competitions and won many awards. Similarly he has excellent oratory skills and represented his college on many occasions . "I did not exhaust myself. From the beginning I gave priority to studies and did my work systematically and never postponed my work. I give a keen ear to the teachers when they are teaching and this helped me to succeed. the examination," Thathsara said.

The overjoyed Kumuduni Wicramasuriya, said she expected her son to do well at the examination. "My two daughters too passed the scholarship examination very well and that background too would have helped my son to come out with flying colours."She added that her two daughters too should get the credit for her son's achievement as she had to go to Colombo for employment one month before her son's examination.

Three students came second and Gimhani is one of them."I did not miss a single day of school and never went for tuition." said Kavindiya Gimhani Mallawarachchi of Godagama Subharathi Mahamatthya Vidyalaya, who obtained 196 marks . She said that she attended Godagama Subharathi Mahamatthya Vidyalaya from grade one itself and she is the daughter of Army Warrant Officer-I, Nilmini Priyangika Kumari of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps and the Warrant Officer-II, M. M. Mahinda of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps.

"I worked systematically, do my homework and I did past papers. In addition to my studies I took part in dancing. I had no pressure from family to excel at the examination. I was free to do whatever I wanted to do", Gimhani said.

Jinali Vidulanka Munasinghe from Kegalle, Hettimulla Bandaranaika Junior school too scored 196 marks and was placed third in the Grade 5 scholarship examination. Jinali excelled in her studies from the inception and she has always secured one of the the first three places in class. Her parents are Nimal Pushpakumara Munasinghe and Deepika Karunaratna. Munasinghe is employed as a clerk in a private firm and Deepika is employed in the Kegalle base Hospital. Jinali is the second in a family of three.

Her class teacher, Chandana Pathirana said that Jinali was an enthusiastic student. Her parents assisted her in whatever they could." We anticipated that she will do well because of her enthusiasm," he said.

Jinali said "My teacher helped me a lot to achieve these results. I participated in many seminars conducted in different schools. I stayed for classes aft er school. There were classes on Saturdays. I do my school work before lunch. After that I play with my friends and watch TV. My parents always looked into my needs and helped me. In 2003, I was the first in class she said.

Karagasthalawa Maha Vidyalaya has produced the second best student for the third time. Heshan Chanuka Dharmarathna also obtained 196 marks in the grade 5 scholarship examination. Ironically Karagasthalawa Maha Vidyalaya is on the verge of closure but has produced 26 students who have passed the scholarship examination.

Heshan's parents are Danasiri Dharmarathna who is employed in the Divisional Secretariat office at Imbulpe and Sitara Senarath who is employed in the same institution.

My father and mother helped me a lot. I went for extra classes during the holidays. The National Education Institute of the Sabaragamuwa Campus conducted several seminars in schools. I participated in them. I read additional books and worked hard to achieve this target.

Obtaining 195 marks and coming third in the slot are Nuransi Roneth Gamage of Opanayaka Vidyalankara Primary School secured. He is a student with many talents and is the head prefect of the school. Rohana Thilakasiri Gamage and Ramani Anuruddika are the parents of Nuransi. He had earlier won first place in the hand writing competition in Sinhala and English in the Ratnapura district. "I wake up at 5 in the morning. I did not go out of the way to study for the examination. Our principal conducted evening classes free of charge to help us to do well. I have a younger sister. I will try hard to become a good citizen of this country.

Isuru Kelum Kumara also obtained 195 marks. He is a student of Asswadduma Subarathi Vidyalaya Junior school in Kuliyapitiya. Kelum is the eldest in his family and has an eight-year-old sister. His father ,Manjula Saman Kumara is a businessman. His mother Pathiraja Manike is employed in the Peculiarity Divisional Secretariat office.

Sajini Sadisna Menike obtaining 195 has also recorded the third place in the scholarship examination. She is a student of Vishaka Buddhist Girl's school Kuliyapitiya. She is the eldest in the family and also has an eight-year-old-sister. Sajani's father Udaya Bandara is the planning assistant by profession attached to a private company and her mother, Manori Ranasinghe is attached to the Divisional Secretary office In Kuliyapitiya.

" I diligently followed the time table set out by my class teacher and I secured 195 marks at the Grade 5 scholarship examination. Thamidu Swarna De Silva of Dharmashoka Vidyalaya in Ambalangoda told the Sunday Observer" I began school work around 5 in the morning. I played with my father and sister in the evenings. I did watched TV when I had the free time. The "Nuga Sevana" program on TV gave me inspiration to study". His parents are Lesley Ranjith de Silva and Perly Nilanthi. Lesley is attached to the Sri Buddadatta school Ambalangoda and Nilanti is employed in the Ministry of External Affairs. Shenuka Dulanjana Ariyaprema of Ambalangoda Theraputta Junior School also obtained 195 marks and hit the third slot. He is a hardworking student who never missed classes on any day. He is an avid reader as well.

The Grade Five scholarship examination has its pros and cons. Parents whom we spoke to said that competition was so rife that children in the end were the victims. Some parents push the children to the hilt.

The children who pass with flying colours have no issues but the average child is driven to the wall to succeed. In addition tuition classes have mushroomed all around the country where some of them are found to be below par and were not conducting proper classes. However, parents are ignorant and send children to these classes and when the results are out and they find that their children have failed they are a trifle disappointed. One parent said that in the rat race to get good schools for children, parents will stoop to any level not realising that in the melee the child's education was being jeopardised. As it is the child who suffers in the end.