News
Exam candidates get reprieve after widespread anger
View(s):By Senuka Jayakody
Postponing the 2022 AL exams to February would mean it would clash with the school terms and the exam schedule
Faced with pressure from political parties, students, parents and teachers, the Department of Examinations postponed the 2022 Advanced Level examination to January 23.
The Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, was reluctant to postpone the exam despite strong criticism even in Parliament.
But, a section of principals and some students say exams should be held as scheduled on December 5.
On Friday evening, the Examinations Department announced that the AL exam has been postponed to January 23-February 17, 2023. The grade five scholarship exam is put off to December 18, 2022.
AL students sitting for the first time in 2022 point out that they lost much school time due to prolonged coronavirus disease pandemic lockdowns, a 100-day teacher strike and power cuts.
Students who sat for the 2021 AL exam and who received results after six months, are complaining they have less than 100 days left to prepare. Those who have changed their subjects to sit again are concerned.
This week, at a press briefing, the leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, lawmaker, Mr Udaya Gammanpila called for a postponement. He said he will file a fundamental rights case in the Supreme Court and a writ petition in the Court of Appeal.
“I challenge anyone to a TV debate who is against the postponement,’’ Mr. Gammanpila said. He said a Telegram group with 11,100 participants has been created.
The president of the All Island Professional Lecturers Association (APLA), Mr Ravindra Bandara, supports postponement, claiming it as unfair for candidates, who switch subjects to sit for a second or third time.
“The Government should have released the results of the 2021 AL examination earlier. Then, the situation would not have been aggravated so much,’’ he said.
Mr. Bandara suggested postponing the exam to February 2023, just as it was last year. 
Pasindu Yasith Wanigasooriya, an arts student sitting for the exam for the first time, favours postponement because the syllabus has not been covered yet.
“Some children of our class are so desperate that they are even sharing links to vote in favour of postponing the exams.’’ He said out of 40 students, only three attend and lessons are continuing.
Senuja Senaratne, a candidate sitting for the exam a second time, wanted the exams postponed to at least January, saying, “the re-correction results have not even been released yet’’.
However, the secretary of the Sri Lanka National Principal’s Union, Mr Mohan Parakrama Weerasinghe, objects to the postponement of the AL examination.
“Students who are ready, will get ready on time,’’ Mr. Weerasinghe said, explaining that the attendance of Grade 13 students and the students applying to sit for the exam for the second time is low.
“We need to get the exam schedules back into the rhythm it used to be,’’ Mr. Weerasinghe said, blaming tuition teachers for demanding postponement of exams.
The head of the department of public policy of the University of Ruhuna, Dr. Renuka Priyantha said that he supports holding the examination according to schedule. Otherwise, university admissions could be delayed.
“Students in urban areas had online classes, while it might be difficult for those in rural areas,’’ Dr. Priyantha said.
However, explaining that some universities are offering programmes to undergrads, he said, “It might not be a serious problem”.
“It depends on the student. He must work hard,’’ Dr. Priyantha said.
Mr Premajayantha said this week in Parliament he will not postpone the 2022 AL exam.
He said postponing the exams to February would mean it would clash with the school terms and the exam schedule, causing 10,000 schools to close for a month, creating confusion until the 2024 academic year. Also, the 2022 Ordinary Level examination will have to be put off.
He said most students who demand postponement are those sitting for a second, or third time, and who had not missed many classes.
“Students should attend the exams on the days provided by the Department of Examinations, not submit unreasonable demands,’’ the minister said.
A first time AL candidate in the maths stream, said he opposed the postponement.
“Our results will get delayed and university entrance will get delayed as well. It is almost as if we did the exam for a second time,” he said, adding that even then, the majority of students he knows, supports postponement.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!