Exams Dept defends ban on preparatory classes on eve of A/L
The Exams Dept has defended its move to ban all preparatory classes for the 2015 Advanced Level (A/L) Exam, claiming it was for the wellbeing of the candidates.
Exams Commissioner, W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara, while refuting the claim that government was doing this to prevent the leak of question papers said, “Gazette notification of July 2013 was re-imposed to protect the candidates from psychological harm during exams.
He said that, just before exams, candidates are told by various elements that the question papers have leaked, causing much distress to those who cannot afford tuition. He said that most tuition centres give false signals to candidates, claiming they have prior knowledge of questions set for the exams, in order to recruit more students for their classes. “When other students hear this they get upset,” he said.
He maintained that question papers have never leaked in the past, and this was a ‘rumour’ spread by parties with vested interests.
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) while charging that restrictions on tuition is a violation of basic rights, said the gazette notification was introduced by the last regime when the Science paper leaked in 2013.
CTU Secretary, Joseph Stalin alleged that papers were sold in front of tuition centres for Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, when, then Education Minister Bandula Gunewardena quickly brought in the legislation.
Stalin further said the ban is discriminatory and it affects only the Tamil and Sinhala students, as the Muslim schools are continuing to function and could prepare for the exams even up to the last hour. “Most schools, before the restriction, had seminars and classes till the last day to coach the children,” he said.
He also said that affluent candidates who can afford individual tuition classes also benefit, as they will continue to be e coached. “This is unfair,” he said.
The ban came into effect at midnight on July 29 and ends on September 8. It restricts discussions, seminars and tuition classes for A/L 2015 candidates.