Daily power outages: A/L students sitting for exams affected
View(s):Daily power cuts this week have severely affected students sitting for Advanced Level exams, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) said.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said the government has failed with its assurance to conduct the exams smoothly.
“The A/L exams are crucial as it decides university entrance and career selection. The exams were already postponed due to COVID-19 and power cuts are taking place while exams are being held. Students and parents are complaining to us,” he said.
He said last week’s intermittent power cuts and this week’s daily power cuts have caused inconveniences to students as many are depending on technology for studying notes.
“Due to online studies during lockdown most students have notes saved in laptops and phones. Nowadays, students are not used to studying with kerosene lamps or candlelight,” Mr. Stalin said.
He said the government should wait till the exams are over to conduct the power cuts.
This week in Parliament, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requested the government to postpone power cuts till March 05.
“The power cut is a concern among students sitting for A/Ls mainly due to the Z-score system. There is a possibility of filing Fundamental Rights petitions due to power shedding in different areas at different time periods,” he said.
Replying to Mr. Wickremesinghe’s request, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said this issue was discussed between the Education Ministry, Examinations Department and the Ceylon Electricity Board. However, the Minister failed to give an assurance that power cuts will not be conducted until the exams are over.
According to the Examination’s Department, this week students sat for general English, accounting, history, languages, and information technology papers.
Next week, students will face mathematics, higher mathematics, geography, communication and media studies and languages. (NF)
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