Mistakes in papers become hurdles for A/L students

The problems plaguing the education system have spilled over to the ongoing Advanced Level (A/L) examination as well with mistakes found in the questions papers of several subjects held so far.

The mistakes have been found in the Sinhala and Mathematics papers.

A question in the Sinhala (Part One) paper (under the old syllabus) given on Friday asked students to explain the words highlighted in simple language but no words were highlighted, students who sat for the exam said. An amendment was made in the Agriculture old syllabus paper with the message sent via fax to the examination centres but some areas like Kelaniya had received the message only around 11.15 a.m., just 15 minutes before the exam was to end.

Mistakes were also found in the question paper on Mathematics held on August 6 and 8.

Trade unions were quick to blame the Government for the mistakes that were found in some Advanced Level question papers.

Mahinda Jayasinghe of the Ceylon Teachers Service Union stated that the Government should be more careful when setting papers for an exam which will decide the future of students.

“The students were asked to prove an answer in Combined Mathematics which was wrong. The question is one that most students pre- pare for and attempt in the examination because it is easy compared to the other questions,” he said adding that this time the students attempted the question and spent extra time trying to prove an answer that did not add up.

He added that while the Commissioner of Examinations has announced that that full marks would be given to students who attempted to answer it, it would not undo the injustice done to the students.