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Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena’s contention in Parliament last week was that, neither he nor Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayaka should be blamed for the problems that have engulfed the country’s state education sector in the past few months.

Instead, he chose to shift the blame on officials and experts within the education sector, for the recent muddle ranging from the Z-score calculation issue to faulty question papers given to Advanced Level (A/L) students. While it goes without saying that a minister depends heavily on officials to steer the activities of the ministries that come under their purview, in the right direction, they can in no way wash their hands of all responsibility for the mess-up in both the secondary and higher education sectors.

Minister Gunwardena’s attempt to justify the errors that were in the A/L examination papers, by saying such errors took place even in papers set for Cambridge exams in the UK, and that the number of errors was negligible percentage-wise, was also disheartening.

The Education Minister’s comments in Parliament came in response to several queries raised by JVP Parliamentary Group Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake who asked why there was such a high incidence of errors in A/L question papers, and what action would be taken to ensure that the forthcoming Z-score marks for this year’s examination would be calculated accurately. Instead of answers, what Minister Gunawardena did was read from numerous paper cuttings, to show that even in Sri Lanka, under previous education ministers too, similar problems had cropped up, and that the present uproar against him was an attempt to discredit him and the Government.

His equally embattled Cabinet counterpart, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayaka too had to face questions from the Opposition, about his decision to close higher education institutions, with the Minister defending his decision, saying that it was necessary in the wake of the ongoing strike by the university academic staff. He dismissed claims by UNP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera that the Minister had no authority to close these institutions.

However, the Minister said he had used the powers vested in him under the Universities Act of 1978, after consulting the relevant authorities, to close these institutes until further notice. Only the Medical faculties in the relevant universities remain open.

For now, both education ministers have stuck stubbornly to their positions, instead of trying to address the various issues that have come up, in an atmosphere of cordiality. For now, it’s likely that, the woes of the education sector as a whole will continue, unless the problems are dealt with the seriousness and urgency they deserve.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayaka

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena

Other than the education sector crisis, the Government has had to deal with questions on the slow progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris had to once again respond to questions raised by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), by way of an adjournment motion in Parliament, on the measures taken to implement the recommendations of the LLRC.
“We are legitimately proud of our achievements during the last three years. In other countries, it has taken over a decade for normalcy to return after the end of a protracted war,” he said.

The Minister said that Mr. Sampanthan, in his speech, had dwelled exclusively on the past, and such a tactic was not constructive to achieving long term peace.

TNA Parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan who moved the motion, said that the National Plan of Action to implement the recommendations of the LLRC, had not been formulated after due consultation with Parliament or the democratically elected representatives of the affected people.

He also brought up the issue of accountability, saying it is one issue that will not go away until there is honourable peace. “We don’t seek confrontation, but at the same time, this cannot be swept under the carpet and forgotten about. There has to be honourable peace for genuine reconciliation,” he said.

Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, who wound up the debate on behalf of the Government, blamed non-cooperation on the part of the TNA for the delay in finding a solution to the country’s national problem.
“Had the TNA named members to the Parliamentary Select Committee that has been mooted by the Government to find a solution to the national issue, proposals would have been finalised by now,” he said.

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