Attention should be given to “learning loss” when preparing question papers: COPA
View(s):The “learning loss” of students in the year 2020 was 54 percent and by August 2021 it was 88 percent. These statistics were revealed at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) meeting in Parliament last week.
Taking the concerning “learning loss” percentages into consideration, the COPA chaired by Prof. Tissa Vitharana, recommended paying attention to the learning loss when preparing examination papers.
Officials from the Education Ministry, the National Institute of Education, the Examinations Department, the Education Publications Department and the University Grants Commission (UGC) were summoned to this special meeting.
The committee emphasised the need for the Examinations Department to prepare question papers in a manner that would not be unfair to the students considering the relevant learning loss during the examinations.
The committee also recommended that a policy decision be taken in this regard in coordination with the National Institute of Education, the Education Ministry and the Examinations Department.
The inability to cover the curriculum in limited time available due to the inability to hold school classes on the scheduled days, the existing fuel shortage, the economic hardships of the children’s families and the loss of jobs of parents were becoming serious concerns to the education sector, Education Secretary M. N. Ranasinghe said at the meeting.
Education officials said, although teaching is done through online technology, there were various difficulties in the rural areas and the long term implementation of the online method in the learning process was not a successful method for students.
The Secretary said the inadequacy of funds allocated to the Ministry in the face of the current economic crisis is another major concern.
The committee also paid special attention to the need to limit the scope of the syllabus applicable to the examinations in a situation where it was not possible to cover the entire syllabus due to the limited number of school days. Otherwise, children and teachers would be under severe pressure, the committee pointed out.
It was also revealed that due to the existing transportation difficulties, a system would be set up to temporarily attach children to the nearest school and it was expected to be implemented until December 31 this year.
MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Mohamed Muzammil, Tissa Attanayake, Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Sivagnanam Sritharan, Prasanna Ranaweera, Harini Amarasuriya, Weerasumana Weerasinghe and Upul Galappaththi were present at this meeting as well.
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