Exams department to be restructured
View(s):The Examinations Department is to undergo a restructuring programme within the next two years aimed at improving its efficiency including security measures. Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariywasam told Education Times that the programme which commences early next year will cover areas from the preparation of examination papers to conducting examinations and improving efficiency of marking papers.
“The restructuring programme will be based on recommendations made by a team which studied deficiencies of the system”, he said.
Commissioner General of Examinations B. Sanath Pujitha told Education Times that an expert committee has identified 16 areas which needed to be addressed. ‘The programme will span a two year period including ensuring confidentiality of examination papers’, he said.
One of the recommendations, he said was to provide training for those involved in the conducting of examinations with maximum security measures and providing training for those involved in marking papers. ‘We also hope to limit the number of papers to be marked per day and the number of days they work ensuring that those marking papers do not carryout their task under stressful conditions’, he said.
‘Introduction of a double marking system where two persons will check on recorrections as well as for smaller examinations. Under this system two persons will mark the paper and the marks will be compared before the final marks are given’, he said. In order to avoid candidates bringing in any electronic devices a system of using metal detectors will be introduced under the proposals.
He said that another recommendation was to have data base accessible by other state institutions to check on examination results. All examination results of a student will be uploaded into the site. The strategic plan for reforms at the department has been made in addition to reports by a previous committee appointed by the minister and another one by the National Education Commission which has made about 100 recommendations. (By Damith Wickremasekara)