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Fresh criteria for 2016 Grade 1 admissions: Education Ministry
View(s):The Government will set out fresh criteria for Grade 1 admissions from next year, said Education Ministry Secretary, Upali Marasinghe.
He said, once the new circular is introduced, the Education Ministry will not entertain any complaints regarding admission, unless there is a valid reason to do so.
He said the Ministry is usually inundated with such appeals, and this year, it had taken about three months to investigate these complaints.
“We want the principals to take over and ensure that admissions are carried out keeping with the circular issued and the ministry having no necessity to go into these admissions,” he said.
Mr Marasinghe said the new circular will overcome some of the shortcomings in the previous system, and will be gazetted in time for admissions in 2016.
“If students fail to meet the criteria set out in the circular, they will be disqualified, and there will be no necessity for the ministry to reconsider their appeals,” he added.
The present Education Minister, soon after taking office, invited appeals from parents whose children had failed to gain admission to a proper school, from Grades 1 to 4.
Of the 8,000 or so complaints received, complaints related to Grade 1 admissions were investigated and remedial action taken.
Mr Marasinghe said that parents will be informed next week of the outcome of their appeals.
However, he said the appeals related to admissions between Grade 2 and 4 are still under investigation, and parents informed end of the month.
He said no more appeals will be entertained by the Education Ministry.
(By Damith Wickremasekara)