2020 G.C.E. O/L Exams: Final decision to be taken in ten days
View(s):The final decision to hold the 2020 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Exams as scheduled will be taken within ten days, Education Minister G. L. Peiris said.
Speaking at the meeting, Education Ministry Secretary Kapila Perera said a special programme has been initiated to find out if relevant syllabi prescribed for Grade 11 students has been covered, either in the classrooms or through e-learning.
“Prolonged closure of schools is virtually the same as the closure of these children’s future. This means steps should not be taken to provide education without considering the health and safety of the children first,” the Education Minister said.
“This decision was not made irresponsibly even though people are opposing the idea of re-opening the schools. We have taken the best possible decision in the interest of these children,” he said.
The decision was taken after discussions with school principals and health officials at provincial level prior to the reopening of schools” he added.
However, financial provisions had been made to provide the necessary facilities to ensure the health care of all schools, Prof. Peiris said.
The Education Ministry had allocated more than Rs. 37 million to provide health care facilities to schools.
Prof. Peiris said the decision to hold the exams would not be taken arbitrarily.
“We cannot remain in lockdown forever. So people must strive to look into the positive aspects of the situation,” he said.
Hence, the G.C.E. O/L exams would be held from 18 to 27 January 2021.
The Minister announced this at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department to discuss the reopening of schools in the face of the current pandemic.