Follow recommendations to scrap 36 Primary schools: CTU
View(s):The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) last week said the government should follow the National Education Commission’s (NEC) recommendations which advocates to scrap the Primary sections of 36 popular schools in the country.
Responding to Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasm’s proposal to appoint an expert committee to examine the feasibility of not holding the Grade 5 Scholarship exams, with alternatives to relieve the children from the stress of performing competitively to gain entrance to popular schools, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that doing away the Primary sections of popular schools, as recommended by the NEC, way back in 2010, is the only answer.
He said there is mounting corruption in Grade 1 admissions each year, because of parents trying to get the best school for their children. “If the Primary sections are done away with, there will be no competition at Grade 1 level,” he said.
“Thereafter, depending on the performance of Grade 5 students in school exams, they can be given places in popular schools. This will help alleviate corruption at Grade 1 admission every year,” he said.
Also commenting on the Education Dept’s proposal to hold the GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level exams in December, he said the move will not be practical as the Examination Dept did not have sufficient human resources and expertise to conduct exams for around 350,000 AL students and 500,000 OL students.
“Also, conducting AL exams in December will entail changing the entire syllabus,” he said.
- CC