Saturday, December 31, 2011

Unravelling The Secrets Technologically

The eternal universe, The Island.



article_image
by Swami Sunirmalananda

SCIENTISTS have recently told lay people around the globe that there is a crisis in physics; that a particle called neutrino travelled some 60 nanoseconds faster than light, questioning the equation E=mc2. Repeated experiments have confirmed in mid-November that neutrinos really travel faster than light. Scientists may now have to rewrite the books on physics. They had once concluded that the highest speed limit for any object or wave is 186,282 miles (299,792.5 km) per second ~ the speed of light. Conventional theories are set for a change.

When and how did the universe originate? Who or what was its cause? What is its ultimate building block? These and other questions have attracted philosophers and scientists alike since ages. Initially metaphysics and physics were one and the same. Physics branched out recently. Today, qualified physicists and scientists are struggling to uncover the secrets of the universe technologically. They use terse mathematical equations, just as they used geometry before. Scientists may soon use some other language, with the advance in computer technology.

Philosophers, since the time of the Vedas through the Greeks to Descartes, have done good work in this field, but their language is non-technical. Referring to their contribution, Vivekananda had said: "Today we find wonderful discoveries of modern science coming upon us like bolts from the blue. But many of these are only re-discoveries of what had been found ages ago. … It [science] has just discovered that what it calls heat, magnetism, electricity and so forth are all convertible into one unit force…. But this has been done even in the Samhita (3:399).

Swami Vivekananda presents a worldview, non-technically, based on his own insight and on the Vedic tradition, through his talks and writings delivered between 1893 and 1897. That was a decade before Albert Einstein’s Special Relativity (1905) and two decades before General Relativity (1916). Vivekananda’s worldview calls for reflection.

As regards creation, Vivekananda affirms: ‘Creation is eternal’ (8:30). "The Vedas teach us that creation is without beginning or end. … There never was a time when there was no creation" (1:7). Is this universe eternal? Vivekananda explains: ‘The word srishti expresses the universe. Mark that the word does not mean creation. I have to translate the Sanskrit words as best as I can. It is srishti, projection. At the end of a cycle, everything becomes finer and finer and is resolved back into the primal state from which it sprang, and there it remains for a time quiescent, ready to spring forth again’.

How does this projection happen? It is rooted in the vibration of prana. To quote Vivekananda:  "The different pranas are resolved back into the primal prana, and this prana becomes almost motionless ~ not entirely motionless; and that is what is described in the Vedic sukta. It vibrated without vibrations" ~ ânidavâtam. We read again [in the Katha Upanishad], "Everything in this universe has been projected, prana vibrating"’ [3:400].

What is this prana? Vivekananda answers: "Prana is spandana or vibration. Prana means force [energy] ~ all that is manifesting itself as movement or possible movement, force, or attraction. Electricity, magnetism, all the movements in the body, all [the movements] in the mind ~ all these are various manifestations of one thing called prana" (1:503).

So this eternal universe is a vibration of prana. What about matter that we experience? Vivekananda says: "All matter throughout the universe is the outcome of one primal matter called akasha; and all force, whether gravitation, attraction or repulsion, or life, is the outcome of one primal force called prana. Prana acting on akasha is creating or projecting the universe. At the beginning of a cycle, akasha is motionless, unmanifested. Then prana begins to act, more and more, creating grosser and grosser forms out of akasha ~ plants, animals, men, stars, and so on. After an incalculable time this evolution ceases and involution begins, everything being resolved back through finer and finer forms into the original akasha and prana. So, ‘Mind becomes matter, and matter in its turn becomes mind, it is simply a question of vibration (6:34). ‘The same [fact] looked at from one standpoint becomes matter. The same one from another standpoint becomes mind" (1:406).

About ‘empty’ space, Vivekananda says: "Is there any break between you and the sun? It is a continuous mass of matter, the sun being one part, and you another. Is there a break between one part of a river and another?" [1:154]

Regarding the connection between matter and energy, Vivekananda says: "We have resolved the whole universe into two components, into what are called matter and energy, or what the ancient philosophers of India called akasha and prana. The next step is to resolve this akasha and the prana into their origin’ (2:265). "Now there is something beyond akasha and prana. Both can be resolved into a third thing called mahat ~ the Cosmic Mind. This Cosmic Mind does not create akasha and prana, but changes itself into them" (1:360).

Vivekananda had approached Nicholas Tesla, seeking a formula that energy and matter can be reduced to potential energy (mahat). Tesla invited him to his lab to demonstrate the equation, but failed. Tesla heard Vivekananda’s lectures and began to use akasha  and prana  subsequently.

Physics begins with motion. To quote Vivekananda: "Every little bit, every atom inside the universe, is in a constant state of change and motion, but the universe as a whole is unchangeable, because motion or change is a relative thing; we can only think of something in motion in comparison with something which is not moving. There must be two things in order to understand motion. The whole mass of the universe, taken as a unit, cannot move. In regard to what will it move? It cannot be said to change. With regard to what will it change?’ (2:275).

What about the time-space-causation? "Time depends on two events, just as space has to be related to outside objects. And the idea of causation is inseparable from time and space" (2:135).

Finally, the electro-magnetic wave called light. There was no telecommunication during Vivekananda’s time. Yet he says: "The vibration of light is everywhere. The owl sees it in the dark. That shows it is there, though man cannot see it. To man, that vibration is only visible in the lamp, in the sun, in the moon, etc’ (2:42). Again, "The vibration of light is everywhere in this room: why cannot you see it everywhere? You have to see it only in that lamp" [4:101]. So with sound.

This, in brief, is Vivekananda’s worldview. Why is it important? The physicist, Prof Hans Peter Durr’s ‘Inanimate and Animate Matter’ in What is Life (2002) declares: ‘Modern quantum physics reveals that matter is not composed of matter, but reality is merely potentiality’ (p. 145). Further, Prof Lothar Schäfer of Arkansas University writes in Lou Massa’s Science and the Written Word, 2011, "‘The quantum phenomena show that reality is a trans-material, trans-emperical, and trans-personal wholeness". (The Statesman/ANN)



The writer is with the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata

A/L RESULTS BLUNDER WILL SPAWN EDUCATION ALTERNATIVES: FUTA

  • 31 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY OLINDHI JAYASUNDERE

The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) yesterday said the existing controversy over the A/L results that were released twice this week due to a technical error by the Examinations Department would compel students to find other education alternatives to replace the local Advanced Level examinations.
FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Dewasiri said this was already a growing trend among the urban middle classes who could afford alternatives to the local A/L examination such as London A/L and internationally affiliated schools that are widely available today. With the existing controversy over the blunders made by the Examinations Department the search for other alternatives will increase, he said. “The most negative impact is the credibility which has deteriorated because of this controversy. There has been a serious lack of transparency and accountability as no acceptable explanation has been given on this issue and owing to this parents may seek other options for their children which we find is already a growing trend,”
He said the A/L results would not have a direct impact on local university entrance but that if candidates did not obtain the results they expected they would blame the Examinations Department for alleged errors made by the department.
Those most affected by the controversy would be the rural and underprivileged youth as they would have less access to education alternatives and would have to bear the brunt of blunders made by Examinations Department, he said.
Commenting on the private education bill which would be introduced in Parliament next month he said greater opportunities would by made available for the urban upper middle class and the middle class but that it would limit the opportunities available fo the mass of youth in the country.

Punish those responsible for the A/L issue says JHU

  • 31 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY HAFEEL FARISZ

The JHU urged the Education Minister to take action against those who were responsible for the Advanced Level results issue.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror the Deputy General Secretary of the JHU Udaya Gammanpila stated the lack of early prepa
ration on the part of the authorities resulted in the ensuing confusion.
“The new syllabus was introduced two years ago and the authorities had ample time to formulate a comprehensive ‘Z Score formula’ that was agreeable, the relevant authorities were aware of this for the past two years that this issue would crop up this year but they seem to have been negligent,” he said.
Mr. Gammanpila said the JHU was hopeful that the Minister of Education would take necessary action against the persons who were negligent.
“This issue has caused immense problems to the student community and we hope that relevant action will be taken against the perpetrators at the conclusion of the ongoing inquiry,” he said.

No revision of A/L results…

  • 31 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • - Enid. - Bertram Shedden - Fazly Kalubowila
Will students who sat for this exam ever be satisfied unless a thorough search is done to confirm the results released are correct? A committee will detect the blunders and lay down proper guidelines for future exams only For more than a century no such thing has taken place. Our present regime makes big blunders and they are capable of playing it down. Many more wonders are awaited This is what happens when three ministers handle a subject. Now we need a committee to show the way. Will some one resign please! Please!

GCE A/L students and parents protest

  • 31 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY KRISHAN JEEWAKA JAYARUK
A protest campaign was staged yesterday (30) in front of the Matara ancient Bodhi demanding the issue of correct results of the GCE A/L examination.
The protest was organised by the People’s Movement for the Protection of the Schools. They alleged that the results which had already been issued were incorrect. They also demanded the resignation of the Education Minister.
A group of students who had sat the past G.C.E A/L examination and their parents participated in this protest campaign.

PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS WANT GCE A/L RESULTS REVISED

  • 31 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY OLINDHI JAYASUNDERE

No transparency in calculation method

Ten education sector trade unions including principals and teachers charged that the formula used to calculate the GCE A/L Zscore was flawed and therefore urged the government to revise the results and issue it afresh.
Education Trade Union Alliance General Secretary Wasantha Dharmasiri told a news conference that there were several errors in the way the Zscore was calculated. “There has been no explanation as to how the old and new syllabuses were combined and the way in which it was calculated,” Mr. Dharmasiri said.
He displayed a formula sheet and said the number of children who sat the examination, the marks obtained the number of exams they sat for and other details were all vital in preparing the Z score. He said there was no transparency in how the Z-score was prepared and the mistake was visible.
“Even if the Education Ministry says these results are accurate, the people do not have any confidence in them. Therefore the Examination Department has to revise the results,” he said.
The unions vowed to take countrywide trade union action against the Education Ministry’s refusal to revise the A/L results.
The unions also charged that Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena had not taken responsibility for the grave blunders in the A/L results and should resign from his portfolio immediately.
“On Thursday the minister told a news conference that the reasons for the blunders in the A/L results were because of failures on the part of teachers who had refused to set the papers and mark them if their salary demands were not met. As teachers we are the first to be enthusiastic about our students. It is wrong for the minister to make such statements,” Sri Lanka National Principals’ Union General Secretary Mohan Weerasinghe said.
The unions that participated in the news conference included Ceylon Teachers Union, Educational Professionals Union Lanka Pragathi Teachers Union, Sri Lanka Jathika Principals Union, Grade One Ranking School Principals Union and Sri Lanka National Teachers Union.

Don’t make A/L ranking mess-up a political issue – DPF



By Lal Gunesekera, The Island.

The Democratic People’s Front (DPF) does not want the GCE (Advanced Level) Examination ranking mess up turned into a political issue.

Secretary General of the DPF Dr. Kumar Guruparan said that the mess-up was a creation of Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake, who admitted that the mix-up in the rankings was due to pressure from people with ‘top connections’.

Guruparan said that it was quite unnecessary for Parliament to be summoned urgently from its recess for a debate on that issue as it would only create a ‘mountain out of a molehill’ and affect the image of the country and its education system which is held in high esteem.

Guruparan said that it was the first time such a mess-up had happened in Sri Lanka and he was optimistic that it would never occur again.

GMOA still trying to prevent Carlo being appointed head of SLMC



By Dilanthi Jayamanne, The Island.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has continuously expressed its concerns over Prof. Carlo Fonseka’s appointment as the next Chief of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).

Addressing a Press briefing on Wednesday (27), Assistant Secretary of the GMOA Dr. Upul Gunasekera said they were hoping for a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the end of next week to discuss the issue.

He said there had been a unanimous decision by the medical fraternity to recommend the name of Professor Lalitha Mendis who has already served two terms, out of five, before tending her resignation.

However, the present chief of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), Dr. Fonseka is another matter. He does not have registration with the SLMC, Gunasekera said stating that they were unaware if Prof. Fonseka had registered after his name had come up as the next President of the SLMC, Gunasekera said.

According to the Medical Ordinance the SLMC Chairman should have no political affiliations to be able to function independently. Prof Fonseka is a good teacher but his comments and articles in newspapers have been able to raise several eyebrows in the medical field – especially with regard to comments he has made regarding the SLMC, he alleged.

However, President of the Sri Lanka Society for Medical Laboratory Science (SLSMLS), Ravi Kumudesh, when contacted, said it would be a good move on the part of the government as Prof. Fonseka was on par with all professions in the medical field.

"We have seen that in the past the SLMC has observed double standards towards medical officers and other professions in the health field," he charged. Their only concern has been centred on medical officers and medical colleges.

Several other health professions too need to register with the SLMC, namely: Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs), pharmacists, physiotherapists, radiology technologists, occupational therapists, eye technicians and dental technicians.

But it is a noted fact that the SLMC has been responsible for awarding registration to bogus diploma holders and businessmen who want to make a few quick bucks by awarding these diplomas.

Kumudesh said the present situation had left room for nurses, MLTs and the other health professions to seek their own Councils as they have no faith in the SLMC. The Nurses have already succeeded in breaking away.

He said that Prof. Fonseka was quite capable of restoring the situation if he is appointed.

The Paramedical unions could not be contacted for comment at the time.

Presidential committee on A/L results mess up appointed

, The Island.

By Nilantha Madurawala

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appointed a five-member committee to look into the GCE (Advanced Level) results mess-up.

The committee comprises Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology Dhara Wijethilake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo Kshenika Hirimburegama,Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa Prof Malik Ranasinghe, Vice Chancellor of the Uva Wellassa University Prof Premalal de Silva and Principal of the Royal College Colombo Upali Gunasekera.

The committee is expected to submit its report within 10 days to the President.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Confidence in the Sri Lanka's examinations system lost, academics voice concern

Thu, Dec 29, 2011, 09:20 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
 
Dec 29, Colombo: University lecturers in Sri Lanka say confidence in the examinations system of the country has been lost following the controversy surrounding the highly competitive GCE Advanced Level results released by the Examinations Department.
President of the Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA), Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri has said the government cannot dismiss the issue of releasing wrong A/Level results as a minor issue.
He has observed that it was a grave problem for the students, who have received results that are in the mid-level range.
"It is a dangerous situation if the students begin to lose confidence in the examinations system," Dewasiri has noted.
Referring to the comment, made by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayaka that the results were released hurriedly due to the President�s intervention, Dewasiri has said it proved the inefficiency and irresponsibility of state institutions.

TNA call for debate regarding A/L results

Dailymirror




The TNA today called for an immediate parliament debate
regarding the current status of the Advance Level results.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror TNA MP Suresh Premachandra
said that the representative have to be appraised immediately about the
current situation
. “The government again showed its incompetence in not being able
to give in proper results to the students of this country. This isn’t the first
time syllabuses have been changed but we never encountered a problem such as this.
It is the lives of the Children who are the future of this
country that these people are playing with” he said. He went on to
point out that the injustice is equal to students of all parts of the
country and that immediate remedial measure should be taken.  (H.F)

Cartoon of the day, The Island.

Everyone's passing the ball regarding the A/L fiasco: Thalatha

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UNP Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Thalatha Athulokarala speaking to Daily Mirror online today said that the government is not taking responsibility in the recent debacle regarding the Advanced Level results.

"Who is responsible for this mess? No one knows because all those in power keep passing the buck on each other, it is the lives of the children these people are playing with. I have been a part of this system and we know what a lot of hard work goes into this exam, it is the one most defining moment in a child's life and this government made a mess of it," she said.

Athulokarala went on to point out that children had utmost faith in the system and that has eroded due to the negligence of the authorities."The children have throughout the years kept their fate in the hands of those in power to give them results that were fair, but today that faith has been lost, the confidence that a child, parent and the public at large have towards the government has eroded, it's one of the most pathetic instances of total government failure," she said.

The UNP reformist group MP went on to ask as to why over hundred thousand children should pay for the mistakes of a few. "Why should the children suffer? they are the future of our country and the actions of the few of those who can't do their job properly has made all of these children suffer," she said. (Hafeel Farisz)

Govt. should re-process A/L results: Movement

  • 30 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY YOHAN PERERA
The National Movement to Protect Free Education (NMPFE) yesterday called for the complete re-processing of GCE A/L results in order to do justice to the affected students.
NMPFE Convener Ven Dhamaba Amila Thera told a news conference yesterday that the education authorities should accept the responsibility humbly and see that the results are re-processed as errors had occurred when feeding the data into computers. He however said that no errors could have occurred during the marking of papers as they were done under the guidance of academics.
The Ven Thera said that the students that sat for the examinations and their parents had lost faith in the Department of Examination because of these unacceptable results. He also charged that there was a connection between this crisis and the government’s plan to set up private universities.
Coming up with several examples of confusing results put out by the Department the Thera said that a students whose Z score had been 0.9942 had been ranked first while another students whose Z score had been 1.1834 had been ranked 978.

KELANIYA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS STAGE SATYAGRAHA

  • 30 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY LAL S. KUMARA

We have only held a reception to welcome the new students over which the administration held a disciplinary enquiry
The Kelaniya University students Union staged a styagraha in front of the university yesterday morning against what they called the arbitrary suspension of studentship of 13 students of the University.
The conveyor of the Union, Janaka Bandara who joined the protest said the suspension of the 13 students is baseless and arbitrary. “We have only held a reception to welcome the new students over which the administration held a disciplinary enquiry. Later on, only some of the students were released from the inquiry. Besides, studentship was suspended of 2 students who protested over the hostel issue,” he said.
He said that if the university administration does not withdraw the suspension of the 13 students they would be compelled to engage in a severe protest with the assistance of all the students’ unions, non academic staff and the university teachers.

Suspend results and then probe: CTU

  • 30 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

The Ceylon Teachers Union yesterday said that appointing a committee to inquire into the recently released A/L results, was meaningless without the suspension of results. Union Secretary Joseph Stalin in a statement said, “The people have experienced several situations where committees had been appointed in the past whenever a decisive issue surfaces in the country, and these are aimed at suppressing the issues and in other words a delaying tactic. In a situation, of this nature at an examination which decides the future of children, the irresponsible manner in which the authorities had discharged their primary duties is a grave concern and the appointment of such committees would not bring in any tangible results.”
He therefore insisted on suspending the results in its entirety and review them, before appointing the committee. This would dispel fears or suspicions the people have about examinations and results, he said.

Cancel A/L results, urges Sajith

  • 30 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday urged the education authorities to cancel the GCE advanced level examination results and subject all answer scripts to a process of re correction to ensure justice to the students who had been affected by the errors in results. Mr. Premadasa in a statement said this was essential so that the children who sat for the examination could plan their future effectively. The UNP Deputy Leader said education authorities including the Minister and the Commissioner General of Examinations should take the responsibility for this blunder.
“One cannot take this lightly as serious blunders have taken place when preparing results,” he said. He cited an example where a student from the science stream had been given grades for arts subjects.
He said everything including district rankings and Z score had been messed up this year putting the children in a difficulty. Mr. Premadasa charged that this came as a result of holding the GCE A level examination to suit a political agenda.
He also took the education authorities to task for extending the term of the present Commissioner of Examinations recently though his term ended two months ago.

NO REVISION OF A/L RESULTS

  • 30 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY SANDUN A. JAYASEKERA

Committee to look into the rankings blunder

The Education Ministry said yesterday it would not review the controversial GCE A/L results despite requests and protests from various quarters.
Examinations Chief Anura Edirisinghe displaying a document at yesterday’s news conference in the presence of Ministers S.B. Dissanayake and Bandula Gunawardena. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana. Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was expected to appoint a fivemember committee comprising a Supreme Court Judge, three Vice Chancellors and the Attorney General to look into the blunder by the Examinations Department when preparing the district rankings. The minister said the Z-score and the Island rankings were correct but admitted there was a mix-up in the district rankings.
He said none of the students had been affected due to this mistake as it had now been rectified.
The minister said there was no necessity to review or reissue the results as the web showed the correct results with the Z score and island and district rankings. The committee will recommend remedial measures to prevent a repetition of a similar mess-up, identify those responsible and al to recommend amendments to the Education Act. The minister said under no circumstances would he submit his resignation as what happened was a matter of collective responsibility and moreover such a tradition of resignation was non-existent in Sri Lanka’s political environment.
At a media conference held at the Examinations Department auditorium the minister was adamant in saying that the GCE A/L results released by the Examinations Department after revising the district rankings were correct.
“We are awaiting the observations and recommendations of this committee before taking any action against those responsible for the mess-up,” he said.
The minister said President Rajapaksa had spoken to him, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayaka and education officials about the delay in releasing the 2011 GCE A/L results and urged them to speed up the process which eventually led to the technical blunder.
He said there was a conspiracy from several quarters mainly from a section of teachers to disrupt the 2011 GCE A/L examination and described it as an attempt to ruin the future of some 300,000 children.“it was a premeditated and a malicious act going on from June to disrupt the exam. At first, university lecturers said they would not mark A/L answer papers if their salary issue
was not resolved. Several teachers unions said they would take trade union action and would not participate in holding the exam if university teachers refused to mark answer papers. They wanted the payment for paper making increased though hundreds of teachers said they were prepared to mark answer scripts free-of-charge,” the minister said.
He said the Z score had been studied in-depth by a team of eminent professionals including university professors and ratified by the Supreme Court as the most appropriate method to select students to universities.
He said education and higher education ministries had consulted the Attorney General prior to the release of results and any student was free to apply for re-correction if he or she had the slightest of doubt about the validity of the results.

Presidential Comm. to probe GCE (A/L) results mess up

, The Island.

By Dasun Edirisinghe

President Mahinda Rajapaksa would appoint a committee to probe the District ranking mess up of the GCE (A/L) examination results 2011, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

Addressing a packed media conference at the Examinations Department auditorium, Minister Gunawardena said that the committee would include three university Vice Chancellors and a retired judge.

The proposed committee would also make recommendations to amend the Examinations Act of 1968, he said.

"There are several things in the existing Act that need to be amended," Gunawardena said adding that it was to ensure consistency in rules and regulations, some of which now change with Ministers.

"For example, if some examination supervisor did something wrong the department could only sack her/him from exam duties according to the existing Act, but in future through amendments we hope to bring in some deterrent punishments as well," he said.

The Examinations Department released results after making ‘Z’–score by combining the old and new syllabuses according to the formula given by the experts committee including Prof. K. R. M. T. Karunaratne, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga, Prof. Sarath Peiris, Dr. Banneheka and Dr. Dilhari Atygalle, he said adding all were top statisticians of the country.

Assuring that GCE (A/L) results were 100% accurate and only the revised district ranks were issued a day after the release of the results, Gunawardena said that there was no need for anyone to resign as nothing serious had happened.

He said that the teacher trade unionists who were demanding rescrutiny of results were trying to sabotage exam duties and answer script evaluation, but it was unsuccessful.

"They threatened to boycott exam evaluation and duties from July," Gunawardena said adding that they were now trying to create a problem claiming that results were wrong.

He said that the ministry would not dance to their tune and the results would be not re–scrutinized.

However, students could apply for re-correction as usual as in other years, he said.

According to Gunawardena, last year too, 73,000 students applied for re–scrutiny of results.

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Deputy Minister of Education Vijithamuni Zoysa, Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, Education Secretary H. M. Gunasekera, Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe and other ministry officials were present.

Summon parliament urgently to debate
GCE A/L Exam results fiasco - UNP

* President should take the blame for giving unwarranted directions – Ravi K

, The Island.

by Zacki Jabbar

The UNP, while calling for parliament to be summoned urgently from its recess, to discuss the GCE Advanced Level Examination results fiasco, yesterday blamed President Mahinda Rajapaksa, since it was he who had directed the Education Ministry to expedite the release of the results.

Ravi Karunanayake MP, told The Island that as reported by the State media, Rajapaksa on realizing that it would take some time to finalise the ‘Z’-Scores had summoned the Education Minister and other officials and directed them to publish the results soon, despite the practical difficulties involved.

The Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake has publicly admitted that the mix up in the district rankings had occurred due to the unwarranted pressure applied by people with "top connections" attempting to beat the deadline to get their children admitted to foreign universities, in case they did not obtain the required gradings locally, he said.

Akila Viraj Kariayawasam, MP, yesterday wrote to Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne requesting him to ask the Speaker to re-summon parliament on January 14 ahead of the scheduled date of January 17, to debate the mix up in the A/L district gradings, which had led to frustration among many students.

Though technological issues have been blamed for the errors it was clear that the urgency with which the results were released had led to the mess, he said adding that in view of the contradictory views being expressed on a matter of utmost national importance, it was imperative that the highest legislative body in the country addressed the issue so that the mistakes could be rectified and repetitions avoided.

Undergraduates in sit-in-protest...

, The Island.

article_image
Undergraduates in sit-in-protest opposite the Kelaniya University against the suspension of 13 of their colleagues over their alleged involvement in ragging freshers. They accused the University administration of targeting those campaigning for their rights.

Pic Dhammika Salwathura

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Island rankings at 2011 GCE A/L’s

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The following students were ranked first second and third in the island rankings in their respective streams at the 2011 GCE Advanced Level Examination:

Bio-science:
Pramith Shashinda Ruwanoathirana of Royal College, Colombo, Anandarajah Sanjayan of St. John’s College, Jaffna and Mohamed Saleem Fathima Shalidha of Fathima Muslim Ladies College Colombo.

Mathematics:
Kamalakkannan Kamalavasan of J/Uduppidy American Mission College, Valvettithurai, Nushen Manithya Seneviratna of Royal College, Colombo and Dadallage Amila Ruwansiri Silva, of Dharmaraja Vidyalaya, Kandy.

Commerce: Gamage Ishara Dilhani of Debarawewa M.W.V., Tissamaharama, Ravindu Supun Liyange of Richmond Vidyalaya, Galle and Osanda Lakshana Amarasinghe of Visakha B.M.V., Colombo.

Arts: Senanayake Achchillage Sachinthani Kaushalya Senanayake of St, Joseph’s B.M.V., Kegalle, Hiniduma Liyange Chamindri Umesha of Southlands Vidyalaya, Galle and Elluppiti Mudiyanselage Janani Chandimali Perera of Newstead Balika Mahavidyalaya, Negombo.

Other streams:
Kerawgodage Don Anoukh Ashley Jayawardena of St. Joseph’s College Colombo, Konithigoda Kankanamage Tharindu Prabath Ranathunga of Anuradhapura M.M.V., and Iresha Dilhani Rubasinghe of Visakha B.M.V., Colombo

GCE A/L FIASCO: CRISIS INTENSIFIES

  • 29 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY SANDUN A. JAYASEKERA AND OLINDHI JAYASUNDERE

Teachers union complains to Human Rights Commission

The controversy over the GCE A/L results further intensified yesterday with trade unions and others in the education sector urging a total review of the Z-score and Island and District rankings.
They said students, parents and unions were not prepared to accept the results that were released on Monday with some unions having complained to the Human Rights Commission and even threatening to take the matter to the Supreme Court to seek for justice. A PMPS activist seen at the protest.
Pic by Kithsiri De Mel. They are demanding the immediate resignation of Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane and Examinations Commissioner General Anura Edirisinghe saying the national education system had never before experienced a setback of this magnitude.
Several ministers and government MPS also expressed their anger and displeasure over the blunders and said those responsible should submit their resignation without embarrassing the government any further as it had now turned out to be a national issue.
Meanwhile, the People’s Movement for the Protection of Schools (PMPS) yesterday staged a protest opposite ‘Isurupaya’ at Battaramulla that the Z score and the Island and District rankings be suspended.
PMPS spokesman Aruna Dissanayaka said the education authorities must withdraw the controversial GCE A/L results and review, reassess and reissue the correct Z score and the Island and District rankings.
“The parents and students have no confidence at all on the Z score and Island and District rankings. Therefore, immediate steps must be taken to review the entire process and release the correct Z score and rankings. If they fail to do so we will launch an islandwide campaign and tell students and parents not to accept the results already released,” Mr. Dssanayaka said.
Ceylon Teachers Services Union President Mahinda Jayasinghe said his union had lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission and would file a petition in the Supreme Court if the issue was not resolved by January 5.
“We demand the resignation of Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana and Examination scommissioner Anura Edirisighe because they have failed to release the results our members so painstakingly and carefully marked,” Mr. Jayasinghe said and added that the marked scripts had to be re-assessed and the correct an error-free Z score and Island and District rankings be issued.
Another protest organised by the Inter-university Student Federation (IUSF) was held outside the Fort Railway Station with the participation of hundreds of A/L students, their parents as well as university students. The angry protesters threatened to continue their protests through out the island until the Edu
cation Ministry fulfilled their request for complete review of the results. “This is only the beginning of our fight to get the government to listen to us. They say they will not revise the A/L results. But if they don’t we will continue our trade union action until the results are thoroughly studied and verified. We cannot and will not accept these results,” IUSF Convener Sanjeewa Bandara said. Meanwhile, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana was abroad and there was no responsible official at the Education Ministry or the Examinations Department to be contacted by the media.

Messing-up Examination Results

, The Island.

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Is the GCE Advanced Level results fiasco the latest of the government’s spiraling mismanagement of education? I received an official text message on Sunday afternoon informing that the GCE A/L results were available on the web. Although I do not have anyone known to me who sat for the GCE A/L examination this year and is awaiting results, I for an unknown reason checked the website and found no results were on display. It was not difficult to imagine the disappointment of the candidates and their parents and teachers who were eagerly waiting by that time for results to be out. And the disappointment is not for the first time! Ministers, deputy ministers and examination department officials had reiterated many a time in the last two to three weeks that GCE A/L results would be released soon. Finally Sunday night, results were on the web but with so many mistakes. The Minister of Higher Education informed the public through electronic media Monday night that the results were released hurriedly because the President Mahinda Rajapaks scolded them all for delaying results. That was the Minister’s explanation for incorrectness in calculation of district and national ranks.Joseph Stalin, a very attentive General Secretaryof the Ceylon Teachers Union said that "district ranks and countrywide ranks of the students of most districts could not be accepted as they were contradictory". He gave a clear example and informed that "the District ranks of two students who had obtained B, B and C in the same subjects were 369 and 144. Their country ranks were 4,113 and 4,649. The district ranks of two other students with B, C and C in the same subjects were 278 and 405" (The Island, December 27, 2011).

This is not an isolated incident since the examination related issues such as errors in question papers at many levels were reported by media in the recent past. Now, the same has happened in case of the GCE A/L Examination that is generally considered, rightly or wrongly, as the most important turning point in students’ life. Hence, the generation of suspicion over the examination results on the part of the students, teachers, parents and general public is unavoidable and quite legitimate. As Stalin noted, the contradictory statements issued by the Education Minister, Higher Education Minister, Examinations Department and University Grants Commission had naturally added to the feeling of distrust and misgiving of the people not only directly affected but also others. Last Monday, I met some parents, teachers and students and they all expressed their mistrust over the examination system.A teacher came up with an interesting observation. She told me that these things are done deliberately so that the government can find an excuse to privatize holding examinations and releasing results. One may argue that this must be the immediate reaction so that mistrusts expressed may be disproportionate. However, it is not impossible to spread the mistrust as a contagion. Addressing a media conference at the Kelaniya University, Inter University Students Federation demanded the cancellation of results and re-evaluation of the answer scripts.Hence, it is imperative to correct this situation and prevent the occurrence and recurrence of this kind of mistakes in future. However, when a suspicion over the system is established, it would be really difficult to get rid of it as it spreads like a cancer in the system. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the UNP MP for Kurunegala district, has informed us that "this was not the first time the present commissioner [of Examinations] had messed up the results".He blamed, in my view justifiably, the Department of Examination for incompetency. As Stalin has pointed out, occurrence of a similar event in a democratic country would have forced the respective Ministers and officials to resign voluntarily. It is also strange to note that in spite of the fact that a limited area of work has been assigned to each minister because of the unprecedented size of the cabinet, the intervention of the President has now become a general practice for the resolution of problems.

In my view, a serious surgery is needed to correct the situation, to avoid its recurrence and to remove the deep rooted mistrust over the system. The surgery should be invariably preceded by a correct diagnosis. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam is correct in saying that the examination mess-up or a delay of issuing results cannot be attributed to the existence of two syllabi, old and new. It was known to the examination department and to the UGC. This demonstrates that the absence of prior planning and the projection of possible complexities. Minister Bandula Gunawardene informed Parliament a few weeks ago that he could not understand the seven line formula of Z score. Of course, the minister cannot be blamed for his failure to understand such a technical detail. Minsters are to decide on general policy framework. The formulation of Z-score and other calculation details should be assigned to experts who have knowledge on such technical matters. It seems to me that there is an over-politicization of things so that even pure technical matters are addressed by people who do not possess necessary knowledge and technical capacities. This happened when appointments are done on political basis and the services are extended for political reasons in spite of incompetency. Now politicians have become technical experts and technical experts act as politicians. This over-politicization is extremely dangerous when it happens in subject areas like education and health.

What are immediate corrective measures that can be taken up? I submit that impartial and independent review committee should be appointed to look into the entire procedure of preparation of results. The nominees or representatives from the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA), Ceylon Teachers Union and Inter-University Student Federation should be included. The committee should also include experts on statistics and computer programming who have the knowledge and capacity to revisit Z score formula, and the way in which it was programmed. Most importantly, the officials who are at present working in the Department of Education and the UGC should not be included in the committee. The findings of the committee should be made available to the public in all three languages. I believe that this submission would be more fruitful than the idea expressed at the press conference of the Ministry of Higher Education on Tuesday. At the press conference it was told that individual candidates would be allowed to get their results reviewed. This will be not only a messy idea but also it would place candidates in a difficult situation.

What I have suggested is only a corrective measure. However, the surgery should include much more than this immediate step. I firmly believe that the government should revisit its entire policy framework on education and higher education since it lacks proper perspective and projection to make Sri Lanka a knowledge hub of Asia.

The writer teaches political economy at the University of Peradeniya.

E-mail: sumane_l@yahoo.com

NTC wants A/L results suspended

, The Island.

By Cyril Wimalasurnedre

KANDY – The President of the National Teachers’ Council (Jathika Guru Sabha) Nimal Premawansa told a news conference in Kandy on Tuesday (27) that the results of the GCE A Level Examination, released by the Examinations Department, should be suspended forthwith.

Those who messed up the examination results should vacate their posts, Premawansa said.

The results of the CGE A Level examination were in a mess. "The poor students numbering over 295,000, their parents and their teachers are in a confused state of mind due to the mess created in the results released by the Examination Department, "Nimal Premawansa said.

The officers of the Department of Examination, who released the results after much pressure, as well as the ministers in charge of the education of the country were responsible for the chaos, Premawansa said.

The officers as well as the five ministers— three ministers of education and the two ministers of Higher Education, should take the responsibility and vacate their posts, the former parliamentarian told the media representatives in Kandy.

Premawansa said that the responsibility for teducation should come under the direct supervision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He also said the ‘Z’ score method should be abandoned and a more simple method that people could understand for university admission followed. The confusion was created by those elements who crept into the government at a later stage to bring disrepute to the government.

The education and examination authorities were aware that this year’s AL examination was conducted under two syllabuses but the authorities were not prepared to the change, he said adding that the best solution at the moment was to withdraw the results released.

Vice President of the Teachers’ Council G.I.N. Bandara and Executive member Ven. Watagamuwe Ananda were present.

Ragging would be stopped in all Universities - SB

Some university teachers blamed for supporting ragging

, The Island.

by Dasun Edirisinghe

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake lashed out at some sections of the university teachers who condemned the suspension of the Peradeniya University’s Students’ Council and Faculty Student Unions recently.

Addressing a media conference at the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday, an angry minister said that the blame lay especially with the arts faculty teachers’ union which officially issued statements against the suspension.

"The university administration had to suspend all student unions in Peradeniya for organizing protests and conducting severe ragging on freshers," he said adding that "university teachers too must have been aware of severe ragging, but they didn’t condemn it."

As a result of inhuman ragging, a student who was severely tortured mentally by senior students, was still warded in the Kandy hospital and another student of Ruhuna University, had her spinal cord damaged during ragging, and was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital from the Matara hospital. She was still warded, Dissanayake said.

He said that the university teachers, including the President of the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA), blamed the government for banning student unions claiming that it was a human rights violation, "but why can’t they see the human rights violations which were committed by senior students on their first year colleagues?"

The students had organised a protest march from Peradeniya to Colombo and on the same day the so called student leaders assaulted Prof. Hennayake while he was conducting lectures. They assaulted even a security officer who attempted to prevent the attack, Dissanayake said.

"If a student is against ragging, he or she cannot go to the library and take part in cultural events. They are not allowed to go to the canteen too," Dissanayake said and asked why those teachers couldn’t see hundreds of students having their meals under trees or on benches due to senior students not permitting them to go to the canteen.

He said that they had stopped ragging in 15 out of 17 universities. There were incidents of ragging still in the Ruhuna and the Peradeniya Universities and that too would be stopped at any cost.

UGC Chairman Gamini Samaranayake said that according to the University Act they had the power to suspend Student Unions.

Private University  Act ready soon

, The Island.

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by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Ministry of Higher Education plans to present a new bill titled ‘Quality Assurance Accreditation and Qualification Framework Bill’ which is popularly known as ‘Private University Act’ in parliament as soon as possible.

Minister S. B. Dissanayake told a media conference on Tuesday that the Cabinet of ministers had already approved the draft bill and it would be tabled in the House after it received clearance from the Legal Draftsman’s Department.

He said that a section of politically motivated undergraduates had misled the public claiming that the ministry was going to establish private universities once the new bill became legal, but it was not the truth.

"There are 29 private universities already functioning in the country as Board of Investment projects for the last nine years," he said.

Some of those institutions provide substandard education for very high fees, he claimed.

Some institutions offered three-month diplomas, six-month higher diplomas, one-year degrees and three-year post graduate degrees, but those institutions were not functioning under the University Grants Commission (UGC).

"We will regularize those institutions under the new Act," he said.

Dissanayake said that under the new act, the ministry would introduce new rules and regulation for those institutions to enhance the quality of education.

He said BoI had issued licenses to 51 institutions, but currently only 29 were functioning and most of the institutions had to close down due to their poor quality.

They would also enforce a rule that scholarships must be given to 20% of the students who did not get selected to the government universities, the Minister said.

Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that the new Act would not be a threat to the free education system, but it would increase the annual intake of students to universities.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

‘GMOA to strike if SAITM report unreleased’

  • 28 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY OLINDHI JAYASUNDERE

It has been three months since the committee was appointed to look into this issue but the report has still not been released. If the report is not out by December 31 we will go on strike.
Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe
The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday threatened to go on an all-island strike if the Health Ministry does not release an inquiry report on the controversial South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) by the end of the month.
Addressing a news conference yesterday GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe said the union had refrained from taking trade union action in September after Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena assured that a five member committee would be appointed to carry out an inquiry on the standards of the institution.
He said a number of medical professionals representing the leading medical organisations in the country had already given evidence to the committee, but the report was yet to be released. “It has been three months since the committee was appointed to look into this issue but the report has still not been released. If the report is not out by December 31 we will go on strike. We cannot wait any longer,” Marasinghe said.

Cancel inaccurate A/L results: Student union

  • 28 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY KRISHAN JEEWAKA

The Ruhunu University students yesterday staged a protest demanding the cancellation of inaccurate results of the GCE Advanced Level Examination and to issue the correct results.
More than 500 students participated. They said the students and there parents had lost confidence in the Department of Examinations. They pointed out that the authorities should take immediate steps to re-examine the answer scripts and to process the correct results.
President of the General Student Union of the Ruhuna University Nandika Gunasekara said: “The government has failed to implement any scheme in the education sector. Grade one admissions, printing of text books and holding of public examinations are in a crisis”. He said that a student in the Arts stream has received results under the Commerce stream. It is in fact a miracle in the East. No other successive government since independence had created a crisis in the public examinations in this manner.
“The minister and the institutions responsible for this muddle are making contradictory statements to cheat the people. The Minister of Higher Education should resign without attempting to mislead the people with false excuses. We are determined to launch an island wide campaign against this injustice to the students who sat the examination after years of hard studies,” he said.
The protest lasted for about an hour.

CONTROVERSY OVER RAGGING CLAIMAT RUHUNA CAMPUS

  • 28 Dec 2011
  • Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
  • BY SANDUN A. JAYASEKERA
The Ruhuna University ragging victim’s mother Nirmala De Soyza (52) blamed the members of the Ruhuna University Students’ Union for ruining her daughter Wathsala Kumudini’s life, but student union leaders denied the allegation and said the girl’s mother was being used by the government to divert attention from its move to set up private universities.
Ms. De Soysa told a news conference organized by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake that ragging was cruel, indecent and beastly and it was a national duty to put an end to this type of inhumane ragging at universites.
“Yes, my daughter Wathsala had a minor ailment on her spinal cord and she was excused from heavy exercises at the leadership training programme she underwent prior to university entrance,” Ms. De Soyza said.
Recalling her daughter’s harrowing and degrading experience she said Wathsala had been forcibly made to speak out in filth by her seniors and then asked to do extremely difficult exercises even after she told them about her spinal ailment.
“It was after this they have had pushed my daughter harder and threatened to continue with her workouts. At that point she had fainted when she suffered unbearable pain in her spinal cord. My daughter is now at the Colombo National Hospital.

Cartoon of the day, The Island.

Cartoon of the day , Dailymirror.