Term test papers a tragicomedy of errors
View(s):More blunders have appeared in the school term test papers, as students, teachers and parents are made to face many hardships in preparing for the postponed examinations.
“Printing of term test papers have become a business,” said Sri Lanka Teacher’s Union (SLTU) General Secretary, Joseph Stalin, addressing the recent term test papers muddle prevalent in several divisions of the country.
“The project to standardise term tests was introduced several years back to ensure an equal education standard in every part of the country. Now this system has completely failed. Presently, we can’t have a valid term test,” he said, adding that the students have lost hope in facing a term test.
He explained that a term test is held to help students and teachers identify weak areas and develop them, but now the test has failed to meet this criterion.
“Students now look at a term test as a joke, because they know that, at the end of the day, there would be something wrong with the question papers,” he said.
Mr. Stalin said that the situation has resulted in private printing houses benefiting, as they charge more than the standard amount sometimes.
There were mistakes in the Environment and Geography papers given to students in the Matale Educational Zone this Wednesday. The map in the Grade 11 Geography paper was inverted, with Australia on the left hand corner of the map.
Also, the principal, teachers and the students faced adversity when the papers were delayed by several hours. Teachers were even made to go to the printing houses to collect these papers.
However, when a senior official of the Matale Educational Zonal office was questioned regarding the incident, he stated that term tests are not very important, and that, even though it was not held on the intended day, there was no obstacle holding it the following day.
Central Province Teachers’ Union Secretary, Gamagedara Dissanayake said that school authorities are made to get question papers which cost Rs 55-65, for over Rs 100.
The Grade 6 Sinhala paper of the North Central Province was postponed from the July 16 to July 30, because the question paper carried the answers as well. In addition to that, last Monday (15), the Grade 11 Buddhism paper of the Anamaduwa Division, Puttalam, had only 20 out of the 40 questions.
Also, the Buddhism and Life Skills question papers in the Piliyandala Education Zone had several mistakes, where the questions themselves were wrong, the SLTU claims.
Mr. Stalin said that the Education Minister is responsible for the recent blunders, and that, he should address the matter soon, without blaming the provincial education ministers or other officials.
“There were always problems in examination papers and we, together with the media, voiced this matter to the public, but the ministry has failed to provide a solid solution. We urge the minister to take steps to eradicate the problems or else, resign from his post,” he said.
He added that the Union, together with the parents, is going to protest, if the minister doesn’t look into it. – Aanya Wipulasena and Mahesh Keerthiratne
| The usual blame game does the rounds within the Education ministry while students, are made to suffer the consequences of a failed system |
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