Circular preventing A/L students from changing schools suspended

* Will be applied strictly for next batch

May 17, 2012, 10:55 pm , the island

by Zacki Jabbar

Amidst vociferous protests by parents and opposition political parties, the government said yesterday that the Education Ministry circular, preventing students from changing schools after passing the GCE (O/L) would not apply to those who had already enrolled at other schools.

Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Colombo, said that based on representations made by parents of affected students the implementation of the circular had been temporarily relaxed, only in respect of those who had already obtained their leaving certificates and joined other national schools.

Stressing that the circular had not been rescinded, the Minister said that it would be applied strictly in the future.

Education Minister, Bandula Gunawardena said that the circular had been introduced after having obtained a cross section of views.

The government’s policy, he said was to develop all schools.

Gunawardena, said that the Ministry had decided to establish a mechanism to regulate international schools as well.

The Regulatory proposal had been presented to parliament, he said, adding that it would be enforced immediately after its ratification.

Asked about the controversial ‘Z score’ issue, Minister Gunawardena said that the matter was before Court and it would be better for all concerned to await the ruling.