Controversial Z-score under review

May 13, 2012, 11:17 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake has decided to appoint a committee to review the Z-score system used to admit students to universities.

Minister Dissanayake told The Island that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had instructed him to review the current system of university admissions and to sort out problems related to it once and for all.

Minister Dissanayake said: "There is a Z-Score formula to select students to the universities. Though this system has been in use for some years it has come under criticism from some quarters. There are also differences of opinion on the method among parents, students and university teachers," he said.

Considering some issues voiced by students, parents, professors, intellectuals, legal experts and various stakeholders during a case against the Z-score system being heard at the Supreme Court, the President had instructed that the system of university admissions be rendered fair by one and all. "I have also been instructed that action be taken immediately and I plan to appoint a special ministerial committee to review the existing system based on Z score formula," Minister Dissanayake added.