CTU PROTESTS AGAINST ELECTIONS COINCIDING WITH EXAMS
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has protested against the holding of elections in a manner that political campaigns coincided with major national examinations of school students.
In a statement the Union’s General Secretary Joseph Stalin said while having been aware that the GCE (AL) examination would be held between August 5 and August 31 and the Year 5 Scholarship examination on August 25, the authorities had set the dates for three Provincial Council Elections in such a manner that the campaign dates overlapped the examination dates.
In a situation
It is ridiculous for the Examinations Commissioner to request the Elections Commissioner not to conduct the elections in a manner that would disturb the examinations Having had such an experience holding elections in a manner disturbing the students sitting for the Advanced Level and Year 5 Scholarship examinations this year as well
where the Advanced Level examination has become a decisive in a student’s life, disturbing them with election campaigns was a serious injustice to them, he said, adding that last year too the authorities held the elections for the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils in August, creating an atmosphere of nuisance around examination centres. He said no action was taken when complaints were lodged about the disturbances last year.
Having had such an ex- perience holding elections in a manner disturbing the students sitting for the Advanced Level and Year 5 Scholarship examinations this year as well, poses a serious question, Stalin said in his statement.
“It is ridiculous for the Examinations Commissioner to request the Elections Commissioner not to conduct the elections in a manner that would disturb the examinations. What the Elections Commissioner had to do was not to hold the elections during examination dates,” the CTU further said.