Recommendations of committee will be implemented:

No change in A/L results - Minister Bandula Gunawardane

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Various speculations regarding the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination results and Z-score system have turned it into a controversial topic. The Sunday Observer interviewed Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane to ascertain the ground realities on this issue.

The Minister said unfortunately, the issue of the Advanced Level examination results has been politicised in an adverse manner by the JVP and its student faction, the Inter University Students Federation, certain sections of the UNP and the LTTE diaspora. He maintained that whatever government is in power, examination results affect children and the results should not be politicised.

The Minister said no injustice has been done to any student who sat for the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination regarding their grades, Z-score or district ranks. Steps were taken to rectify the district ranking which had been subject to change due to a technical error made when the data of the examination results were fed into the computers.

The Government has no intention to suspend the 2011 Advanced Level examination results based on political grounds and put the future of thousands of students who have qualified to enter universities into jeopardy. However, Minister Gunawardane said he has already given instructions to the Education Ministry Secretary and the Examinations Commissioner to implement the recommendations made by the committee appointed to probe the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination results.

Q: Have you decided to implement the recommendations made by the high-powered committee appointed to probe the results of the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination?

A: The special committee was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The committee comprised the Vice Chancellors of Colombo, Moratuwa and Uva universities and the Principal of Royal College and was headed by the Technology and Research Ministry Secretary. Some of the Vice Chancellors in this committee are experts in Mathematics.

After this committee was appointed, allegations were levelled against the 2011 Advanced Level examination results on various political grounds. However, if any injustice had been done to a student due to these results, the committee provided a framework to submit complaints. This committee has investigated nearly 1,000 such complaints. It has conducted a thorough investigation on the examination process. The committee also discussed with Boards which formulated the Z-Score and it has also obtained views from various individuals and organisations. Therefore, this is a very impartial report submitted by a group of eminent people.

I have already given instructions to the Ministry Secretary and the Examinations Commissioner to implement the recommendations made by this committee of experts. When certain changes are going to be made based on the recommendations made by this committee, the Ministry will hold a press briefing to educate the media. Otherwise when we speak with one particular section from time to time, there are occasions where the views expressed by us are distorted and published in the media based on various political agendas.

No injustice

Q: Has this committee accepted that no injustice has been done to any student who sat for the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination?

A: No injustice has been done to any student who sat for the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination regarding their grades or the Z-score. Steps were taken only to rectify the district ranking which had been changed due to a technical error made when the data of the examination results were fed into computers.

If the results of an examination is wrong, first it is identified by teachers and the principal, because the examination results sheet is received by all students who sat for the examination. Some teachers and principals then come to the Examinations Department with students who compare results with earlier performance and nobody can prevent that.

If certain elements attempted to disrupt students to resort to such acts, they have not been able to realise their goal as no injustice has been done to these students.

A situation regarding examination results was created in 2005 due to the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) system used to evaluate answers of the Physics paper. Once the examination results were released, students in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts rushed to the Examinations Department saying they can’t accept the results. Then it was identified that district results had changed due to some error in the OMR machine used to evaluate the Physics paper.

However, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Cabinet intervened to sort out the problem to remedy the situation. A new medical faculty was opened at Rajarata University and an additional 199 students were enrolled. As a whole, the Government enrolled an additional 997 students. If a mistake has been made, we accepted it and took immediate steps to rectify it. As far as the results of the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination were concerned, there was no issue.

Unfortunately, this issue has been politicised by the JVP and its student group, the Inter University Students Federation, a certain section of the UNP and the LTTE diaspora. All these groups have joined hands to politicise the examination results issue. Whatever government is in power, examination results affect children.

Trade unions

Q: How do you view the demand made by the Ceylon Teachers Union and some other trade unions affiliated to the education sector to publish the committee report?

A: It is entirely upto the President to direct the publishing of the report. Teacher trade unions can’t advise the President on how to govern this country. Both teachers and their unions that make irresponsible statements should be held responsible for dragging the lives of innocent children down the precipice. As the Education Minister, I have not given any room to kill or assault any student, teacher or principal.

The lives of children are important. Because the future of students whether they want to become a doctor, engineer, lawyer or any other professional depends on these results. The Government has no intention to suspend Advanced Level examination results on political grounds and darken the future of thousands of students who are qualified to enter universities.

If any injustice or mistake has been done to any student, I have requested these students to submit scripts for re-scrutiny. Re-corrections are done between 30,000 to 90,000 Advanced Level examination papers every year. This amount was less than 62,000 in 2010. Re-corrections are made every year.

The Government has to pay Rs. 400 for re-correction of one examination paper. But a student has to pay only Rs. 250 for re-correction of a subject. The Government has to bear an additional cost for re-correction, the grades of a small percentage of students may change. As a result, the Z-score is also subject to change. Those who don’t have any practical or theoretical knowledge about this issue are making various statements. Through a circular we informed all principals that the Z-score will change after re-correction.

Q: The main Opposition UNP requests the Government to appoint a parliamentary select committee to investigate the issue of the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination results. Has the Government decided to appoint a parliamentary select committee?

A: The Government has not taken any decision to appoint a parliamentary select committee. The people are aware that even before 2012 dawned, posters were being put up referring to a struggle. Various political groups are involved in an attempt to topple the Government.

These elements think people don’t understand anything. They imagine that people will join the struggle and clash with the Police, compelling the Police to shoot the people, to realise their narrow political objectives. Parents and teachers who really love students are not ready to drag innocent students to that level. But it seems these elements have not yet given up their vicious attempts. They try their level best to re-create the past. This was the catastrophe which we experienced over the past 30 years.

Reasonable demand?

Q: In a statement made in Parliament on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe maintained that the Z-score should be abolished. Do you think this is a reasonable demand?

A: The Opposition Leader read a statement in Parliament which had been written by somebody else. The Supreme Court has given a ruling in 2001 that when a student is selected to a university, the Z-score is the most logical method to be followed. The Supreme Court even rejected a petition submitted by Prof. Thattil on the shortcomings of the Z-score system. He was the person who recommended that the Z-score should be used to select students to the university.

Q: Do you think there is a political motive behind the issue of the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination results and the ongoing situation in universities?

A: Definitely. There is a clear political motive behind these incidents. During the final days of the budget debate, I told Parliament about the plan formulated by certain elements for 2012. I have seen this agenda drawn up by these elements for a long time. I think the Ceylon Teachers Union and other teacher unions created this issue in May and June, even before the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination was conducted. They wanted to prevent the Advanced Level examination being held and boycott paper marking. They attempted to destroy the future of nearly 300,000 students who were preparing to sit for the 2011 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination.

At that time, university teachers had also engaged in trade union action. These teacher unions said that they will boycott paper marking of Advanced Level examination scripts to support the trade union action of university teachers.

Those who attempted to boycott paper marking of the 2011 Advanced Level examination have come forward today to speak about examination results. They resort to these activities without thinking of the future of the children.

I appeal to teachers who have children not to resort to this crime of refusing to mark of Advanced Level scripts. Thousands of teachers wrote to me that they will mark papers even if they are killed. Attempts made to boycott paper marking was an utter failure.

On an earlier occasion, this group had boycotted paper marking of A/L scripts and had assaulted teachers who came to mark scripts. Now these teacher unions have dragged on the issue of the Z-score because of the failure to boycott paper marking.

Q: The Opposition alleges that the Examinations Department has been politicised. What is your response to this allegation?

A: The Examinations Department is politicised if the Minister interferes in its policies. It functions as an independent department. Ministers have no ability to control some departments as there are special statutes to govern them. The Public Examinations Act No: 28 of 1968 is there to govern the Examinations Department. According to this Act, all powers of the examination process has been vested with the Examinations Commissioner.

Q: Certain sections highlight the reduction of cut-off marks for some subjects and the decline of the standard of the examinations conducted for some subjects. Can you elaborate on this?

A: Nobody can make such a statement. According to the Examinations Act, one person can’t decide on such matters. Even in Parliament, the Opposition Leader attempted to say two examinations cannot be conducted under the Act. He couldn’t understand that two examinations have not been conducted.

I regret to note that the Opposition Leader who has also held the Education portfolio made such a statement. What has happened is one G.C.E. Advanced Level examination has been conducted under two syllabuses. Sometimes, three or four examinations are conducted. Therefore, the Z-score system was introduced in 2001 to overcome the injustice caused when the same examination is conducted under several syllabuses.

Private universities

Q: What is your opinion on the establishment of private universities in Sri Lanka? Do you think new rules and regulations are needed to regulate private universities and international schools in Sri Lanka?

A: Private universities already exist in Sri Lanka. If you read the weekend English newspapers, you can get an understanding about the number of private universities and international schools in Sri Lanka. People make various allegations about these foreign universities and international schools due to lack of knowledge.

The Government did not make any attempt to introduce a private universities bill. Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake only attempted to introduce a Bill to regulate the quality of these private universities. If the quality of education in private universities comes down, students may face various frauds and malpractices.

However, the Government has given up introducing this Bill as well. Sections clamour for the establishment of private universities as an opportunity for those who have money.

After the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination, most rich people send their children to foreign countries to follow degree courses.

If money is paid to a foreign university, students can do a diploma in the first year and obtain a PhD at the age of 21 even without passing the Advanced Level examination. These elements do not allow the necessary changes to be made in the country’s free education system to give an opportunity to poor students to decide on their future.

Various struggles are launched to close down local universities, that affect only poor students who study in these universities under a lot of hardship.

Rich people are not ready to send their children to a university when inhuman ragging and various forms of harassment are committed by some unruly elements in these universities. Innocent students who come to universities from the villages end up being victims.

Q: Has the Ministry formulated an accepted methodology regarding Grade One admissions of students?

A: Earlier there were certain occasions when the Education Ministry intervened to admit students to Grade One. On the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a Cabinet memorandum was submitted to vest power to schools regarding the admission of students to Grade One.

A Cabinet Sub Committee was also appointed to further study this process. This Sub Committee comprises Ministers Dinesh Gunawardene, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha and myself.

A Cabinet Paper was submitted with the intervention of these Ministers and the authority was given to schools through a Circular. At present Grade One school admissions are conducted entirely based on this Circular. The Education Minister or the Ministry do not intervene in the admission of Grade One.