Postponed A/L exams and scrapped term tests among this year’s party promises
View(s):Restructuring the education system, postponing this year’s Advanced Level examinations, scrapping term tests from Grade One to Five are among promises included in this year’s general elections party manifestos.
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will stick to last year’s victorious Presidential election manifesto.
“Three schools in each divisional secretariat will be upgraded and provided with all the necessary physical and human resources. These schools will be designated as National Schools thus increasing the present number of 353 National Schools to 1000,” the SLPP manifesto said.
The SLPP manifesto also said, provincial schools would be upgraded to the level of national schools, to end the competition for school admissions.
“One of our main objectives is to make all teachers qualified graduates, and to achieve that goal, we will upgrade the existing 18 National Colleges of Education to university faculties.”
The SLPP also planned to establish an island wide network of new “technical university colleges” with special attention given to establish an aviation university and a nautical university, to improve the quality and professionalism of those engaged in those fields.
They also planned to digitalise the entire education system.
The age limits for O/L and A/L examinations would be amended to be on par with international examinations, and reforms would be introduced to minimise the number of years spent to obtain a university degree.
A new method would be introduced to test a student’s IQ level at Grade Six, and they would be guided to higher studies according to their acquired skills and inherent skills.
The United National Party (UNP) manifesto focused on academic activities in a post-Covid situation.
“Considering the current situation in the country, we believe it will be appropriate to consider postponing the 2020 GCE A/L examination. A decision on how and when the A/L examination will be conducted will be made after a discussion with school teachers, trade unions and other education sector stake holders.”
“Financial relief and assistance provided to the private sector will be extended to fee levying schools to provide relief to the parents,” the UNP’s manifesto said.
It also said a practical and more secure mechanism would be in place when schools reopen.
The UNP also said the programme to provide tab computers to Grade 13 students would be implemented with immediate effect, and they also promised to focus on providing funds for temporary structures and empty buildings located near schools to be used.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) proposed restructuring the education system to be compatible with the latest global technological advancements, in its general election manifesto.
The party said it would ensure education to all children, with state sponsorship for early childhood education. The mental and physical health of students would be taken care of through special programmes.
The manifesto also said the school education system would incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in it, a well equipped model school to each divisional secretariat area, job-oriented technology campuses and state sponsorship to pirivena development and all religious Sunday schools.
Some of the assurances given by the JVP affiliated Jathika Jana Balawegaya (NPP) include providing free early childhood education to children from the ages of three to five, removing term tests for students from Grade One to Five, removing exam based number ranking for school students, assessing students on their skills, creating special programmes for students with less skills, providing additional payment for teachers and supervisors who assess students productivity, and releasing G.C.E. O/L and A/L exam results within a month.
- Nadia Fazlulhaq