Academics threaten boycott of A/L paper marking

The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) will boycott GCE A/L paper marking this year because of the lack of adequate human and material resources at universities.

“We will set the examination

We want the government to improve the standards of the universities

papers but will not attend to the evaluation of the papers. We have been asking the government to improve the standards of the universities and take steps to increase the human and material resources which are lacking,” FUTA spokesman Dr. Mahim Mendis said.

GCE A/L examinations will be held in August this year and more than 250,000 students are expected to sit the exams.

University lectures including professors are mainly in charge of the paper marking process. Some are appointed as chiefs and additional chiefs of the paper marking centers.

Their role is to support qualified teachers to mark A/L answer

University lectures including professors are mainly in charge of the paper marking process. Some are appointed as chiefs and additional chiefs of the paper marking centers.

scripts and supervise the evaluation process.

To educate and support the teachers they conduct seminars prior to the start of exams and paper marking.

Last year too FUTA withdrew from the GCE A/L evaluation process when the government failed to resolve their demand for reasonable salary increase.

An Education Ministry spokesman said he hoped the academics would change their decision to keep away from this year’s paper marking.