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GCE O/L exam expected to be affected by polls activity monitors, unions warn
View(s):Candidates sitting the G.C.E Ordinary Level Exam scheduled to be held on December 9 are expected to encounter problems due to the propaganda activities leading up to the upcoming Presidential election, polls monitors warned.
With the exam due to commence in eight days, the Examination authorities are still in the process of carrying out discussions to come up with a feasible solution to the problem.
“We are currently in the process of carrying out discussions with the Elections Commissioner and hope to come up with a solution to this issue, soon,” Examinations Commissioner General W.M.N.J Pushpakumara said.
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya, however, told the Education Times “We have called for election nominations on December 8. This is a day before the commencement of the G.C.E Ordinary Level Exam. Previously we wanted to call for nominations on December 9. However, we took the exam into consideration and decided on December 8.
“After the nominations however it will be up to the Police to handle the situation,” he added.
Two of the country’s prominent teacher trade unions warned that the upcoming Presidential election would have a negative impact on the students sitting their Ordinary Level exam this year. The unions stated that the only possible solution to this problem would have been to reschedule the election, but the opportunity was missed.
Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin said “We have experienced a similar problem particularly during the Northern, Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provincial Council elections that were held close to the date of the G.C.E Advanced Level Exam.”
Alleging that these election dates are set by astrologers rather than on a constitutional basis, Mr. Stalin said the President is seen carrying children and posing for pictures all the time. He does not care for the future of these children. If he cared for the children of this country he would not have called for an election during this time.
“In most countries the authorities check the examination timetables and then decide on suitable election dates. But it is completely different in our country,” he said.
The Ceylon Teachers’ Services Union also expressed its concerns over the matter.
Union Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe, said “In the past we have seen elections affecting the students. For example, during the Uva Provincial Council election several examination centres were disturbed when a loudspeaker was used in the vicinity.”
“The rulers boast about their concerns for these students, but they don’t practice what they preach. If they did think of these students they would not hold an election during this time,” he alleged.
Mr. Jayasinghe also expressed grave concern for the marking process of the exam.
“Normally the marking process is started immediately after the conclusion of the exam. But this too will be affected this time around. We also have a major concern that the marking centres will also be faced with several election related problems,” he said.
Meanwhile election monitoring body, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) also expressed its concerns regarding the upcoming exam.
CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said, “The public address system would cause a major disturbance to the students and it is our main concern. The Police should not give permission for these public address systems.”
Joshua Surendraraj