Academics won’t mark answer scripts

The education sector is heading towards yet another crisis with the Department of Examinations being unable to start evaluating the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination answer scripts of due to a decision by university academics not to participate in it as part of their trade union action, officials said yesterday.

Every year, initial work on the marking is begun a few days after the commencement of the examination. However, the Department of Examinations has been unable to do so this time due to the trade union action by university teachers.

Spokesman for the Federation of University Teachers, Dr. Mahim Mendis told Daily Mirror that the academics would not participate in the paper marking at all.

“We have informed the education authorities of this. Also, if they hire anyone outside the university system to evaluate the answer scripts, we will not accept their assessment to admit students to the universities

If they hire anyone outside the university system to evaluate the answer scripts, we will not accept their assessment to admit students to the universities

as it would compromise the quality of assessment process.

Like the Sri Lanka Medical Council accrediting foreign qualified doctors after a test, we have the right to evaluate the abilities of the students coming to learn from us,” he said.

Dr. Mendis said, “In case the higher education authorities hire outsiders for paper marking, stu- dents seeking enrolment in foreign universities based on their Advanced Level results will face problems. They will be in trouble when the evaluation of their answer scripts is in question.

Asked for a comment, Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, however, said the problem could be solved easily. “I do not think it will lead to a major crisis,” he said.

The Commissioner General of Exmaniations, Jayantha Pushpakumara said he had not yet looked into the matter.

Meanwhile, the JVP- affiliated Ceylon Teachers Services Union said 277,000 students who sat the exam this time were in a dilemma now.

The Union said that university teachers not only supervise the evaluation process but also work out criteria for awarding marks for each question paper.

The Commissioner General of Exmaniations, Jayantha Pushpakumara said he had not yet looked into the matter. Meanwhile, the JVP- affiliated Ceylon Teachers Services Union said 277,000 students who sat the exam this time were in a dilemma now