Changes to the Ordinary Level, Advanced Level and Year Five scholarship examinations will be presented to Parliament within two weeks following widespread complaints that the current examination process is flawed or not suitable, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.
He said the Year Five examination was a burden on the children, the Ordinary Level covered too many subjects in the syllabus and the Advanced Level was too advanced.
The minister told the Sunday Times a committee comprising educationists, professionals, religious representatives and officials of the National Education Commission had submitted its proposals on the changes.
He said the Year Five scholarship examination denied many of their much-needed recreation time and this had affected their performance at Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations. “There is no use of the Year Five scholarship examination, other than trying to gain admission to a more popular school. The effort for this exam has adverse effects on the students,” he said.
Mr. Gunawardena said the GCE O/L syllabus was widespread and covered areas which were unnecessary and as a result the failure rate was high.
He said nearly 50 percent of the students failed the O/L examination last year.
The minister said that Advanced Level examination was also much more advanced that the required standard as some of the questions were equal to that of the second year university exam questions.
“As a result students attempt to do easy subjects to gain entry to universities,” he said.
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