Columns - 5th column,  The SundayTimes

Finding answers to a comedy of errors By Rypvanwinkle The court of King Kekille was in session. The King wanted to find out who was to blame for the mistakes in the Advanced Level examination results. There were many accused: the Commissioner of Examinations, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission, the Senior Tuition Master in charge of education, the Seeni Boley in charge of higher education and the Junior Tuition Master who had just joined the team. The Commissioner of Examinations was in the dock first. "Why are these results incorrect?" King Kekille asked, "as the person in charge I think you are responsible and you should be punished." "I only conducted the examination, Maha Rajaaneni," the Commissioner said, "I do not know anything about what they do with these marks." "Who do you think is responsible, then?" King Kekille asked. "After we conduct the examination, the marks are handed over to the University Grants Commission, Maha Rajaaneni, so please spare my life," the Commissioner pleaded. "You may go" King Kekille ordered, "but summon the next accused, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission." The Chairman of the University Grants Commission was in the dock next. "And what have you got to say?" King Kekille demanded. "It is true that we do some calculations based on the marks the Examinations Department has sent us," the Chairman said, "but this is not our fault, Maha Rajaaneni." "How could you say that?" King Kekille asked, "it is your office that came up with these incorrect calculations, so tell me why you should not be punished?" "We can explain that, Maha Rajaaneni," the Chairman said, "because the incorrect calculations were the result of marks being calculated in two different ways." "And why were marks calculated in two different ways?" King Kekille wanted to know. "That, Maha Rajaaneni," the Chairman explained, "was because the examination was held in two different ways, one for the 'old' syllabus and another for the 'new' syllabus." "And who is responsible for that?" King Kekille demanded. "That would be the Senior Tuition Master in charge of education, Maha Rajaaneni…" the Chairman said, "so please spare my life." "You may go" King Kekille ordered, "but summon the next accused, the Senior Tuition Master in charge of education." The Senior Tuition Master in charge of education stood in the dock. "Everyone seems to think this is your fault," King Kekille declared, "what have you got to say?" "I have done nothing wrong, Maha Rajaaneni," the Senior Tuition Master in charge of education said, "in fact, I have done my job as best as I can." "How can you say that when all these calculations are incorrect and everyone is complaining that they have received incorrect results?" King Kekille asked. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with the results, Maha Rajaaneni," the Senior Tuition Master in charge of education said, "all the mistakes are in the calculation." "But," King Kekille retorted, "those who did the calculations say that they made those mistakes because you changed the syllabus from 'old' to 'new'." "I did, Maha Rajaaneni," the Senior Tuition Master in charge of education said, "but I have quite openly said that even I do not understand the formula that they use to do all these calculations…" "Who is supposed to understand these calculations, then?" "Why, Maha Rajaaneni, you appointed someone to supervise all matters related to education. Maybe he should have done that, so please be kind enough to spare my life," the Senior Tuition Master in charge of education said. "You may go" King Kekille ordered, "but summon the next accused, the Junior Tuition Master who was supposed to supervise education." The Junior Tuition Master supervising education stood in the dock. "And why didn't you do your job properly and supervise all these matters?" King Kekille asked. "Maha Rajaaneni," the Junior Tuition Master supervising education said, "as you would recall, I joined this team only recently and that too only to protect my international schools, so I know nothing about any of this." "So you had no hand in any of these decisions?" King Kekille asked. "Of course not, Maha Rajaaneni," the Junior Tuition Master supervising education said, "although I was hoping I would, when I joined." "But if I am to let you go, I must find who is responsible for these mistakes," King Kekille said, "so, who do you think should be punished?" "All I know is that the man ultimately responsible for these calculations and entrance into universities is the Seeni Boley in charge of higher education, so please spare my life, Maha Rajaaneni," the Junior Tuition Master supervising education said. "You may go" King Kekille ordered, "but summon the next accused, the Seeni Boley in charge of higher education." The Seeni Boley in charge of higher education stood in the dock. "You are the last accused; I think I would have to punish you," King Kekille said. "But, Maha Rajaaneni," the Seeni Boley in charge of higher education said, "I don't think that is quite fair." "Well," King Kekille said, "everyone else is blaming someone else for this and I have to punish someone." "I quite understand that, Maha Rajaaneni," the Seeni Boley in charge of higher education said, "but I think I know who is ultimately responsible for this and it is up to you to punish that person or not." "And who would that be?" King Kekille wanted to know. "Pardon me, Maha Rajaaneni," the Seeni Boley in charge of higher education said, "but it is you who wanted to release these marks in a hurry and that is what led to all these mistakes so I think you are responsible for all this." "Oh, I see," King Kekille said, pausing to think, "now, I can't punish myself, can I?" "Of course not, Maha Rajaaneni, we wouldn't want you to do that," all the accused said in unison. "Then we shall say it was the students who made the mistakes or that it was a computer error," King Kekille proposed, "or maybe even appoint a committee to inquire into all this." "Ehemai Maha Rajaaneni," all the accused said in unison. The case was dismissed.

Education authorities flunk A/Ls

While every other stakeholder bemoans the degradation of the A/L results the powers that be ‘see no evil’

By Mirudhula Thambiah, The Sunday Times

Two students from the same school were in tears of joy after receiving their Advanced Level results with the Z-score markings, or the benchmark to gain university entrance. However, both from Al-Asha National school in Kalpitiya, were confused. Tajudeen Fathima Safana, an Arts student, had obtained an Z-score of 1.5127, and was ranked first in the district and seventh islandwide. Waidu Jafrin Banu, also an Arts student, had an Z-score of 2.1403, and was ranked fourth in the district and 73rd islandwide. Jafrin whose family was driven out by the LTTE in 1990, and since thenhave been living in a refugee camp, is in tears after seeing the results. There were also students who sat their exams in the Arts stream and received their results in the Maths stream. Such was the muddle the Exams Department has got itself into, in its attempt to speed up the release of the A/L results. Waidu Jafrin Banu Tajudeen Fathima Safana Although Education authorities claimed that there were errors only in the computerisation of results for district rankings, there were also errors in the grading, island rankings and sometimes in the Z-scores, which further left the students in a quandary. Ceylon Teachers Services Union Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe, speaking to the Sunday Times, said that his union totally disagrees with the A/L results released last Sunday, saying, “It has many controversies on subject grading, district rank and other components.” “The Exams Department claimed that there were errors in the last step, as a result of which the evaluations were corrected. But we think there were errors while computerising results itself, not in the last stage when the results are evaluated,” he added. He also confirmed that he received all kinds of complaints from students depending on the outcome of their A/L results. “There were two students from the Galle district with the same results in the Arts stream, but with different district ranks, island ranks and Z-score,” he said. A student who sat for European History has not received any grades, but mentioned as ‘Not Finalised’, while another student who sat for Political Science has been declared absent. Graded Principal’s Trade UnionGeneral Secretary S.U. Kariyawasam said that he went to the Education Department on December 26 for the results but didn’t receive them. “The question schemes of the old syllabus differ from the new. In such a state of affairs, it is unacceptable to combine both syllabuses to calculate the Z-score,” he said. “On behalf of the union, I appeal to the Exams Department to re-evaluate the A/L results, so that the errors and the controversies can be avoided,” he said. Inter University Student’s Federation Convenor Sanjeewa Bandara said that the mess up in the A/L evaluation is a result of the non-organized education system of the government. Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena makes a point at a news conference Two of the many protests that erupted: Ruhuna students hold protest in Matara. “There has been a series of controversies within the examination systems of our country, and we demand that the Exams Department re-evaluate the entire result,” he added. Commenting on the committee appointed by the President, Mr. Bandara opined that this committee should have been formed earlier, which shows that the President had not considered this issue before. This committee will drag the issue as usual like those appointed before. Usually, the Exams Department releases the A/L results in November, after the exams are over in August. But this year, as there are students sitting under the old and the new syllabus, it was announced that the results of the A/L evaluation would take more time, and hence a delay in its release. Principals islandwide claim that much of their time was wasted going to the Education Department for the results sheets on December 26, only to return empty-handed. A teacher from Gampaha, Kalyanaratne Ranasinghe stated that issues surrounding the A/L evaluation have become a widespread national problem. The Commissioner of Examinations is trotting out his usual excuses, while the Minister of Education does not give clear answers to questions raised by various quarters. “They have combined both new and old syllabus to evaluate the Z-scores, which is the wrong approach, as students who sat under the old syllabus will be at an advantage over those who sat under the new syllabus,” he said. He further explained that it will only be fair if the Z-score is evaluated separately for the old and new syllabus. He pointed out that the Commissioner of Examinations has called for re-corrections, but re-correction is a normal routine for any examination. “If an underperforming student receives good results due to the computer error, that student will not be applying for re-correction. Therefore, a good, affected student will face an unfair situation,” he said. He explained that re-corrections will cost Rs. 750 @ Rs. 250 per subject. Hence, a student who cannot afford such an amount will refrain from applying and for no fault of theirs. Therefore, re-corrections should be free of charge. A parent from Kandy, Renuka Malliyagoda said it is very difficult to accept these A/L results, due to different feedbacks. “The Ministry of Education and related authorities are going about without any concern for the students. They just don’t seem to care for the students, who could turn suicidal,” she added. However, Higher Education MinistrySecretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne claimed that there was no confusion or chaos in the A/L results. The important thing is the results of the students, particularly the gradings A, B, C, S, F and the Z-score are considered as the most important parts, and both have been evaluated methodically. He further denied that there was nothing wrong with the grading and the Z-score, the only problem has occurred due to a small technical error in the computer programme and there was a mis-interpretation on the calculation of the district ranking with the old and the new syllabus. He also confirmed that the national rankings were correct, and that the only errors were in the district rankings. “Errors in the district rankings are minor, due to technical programming. When there is a small error in the computer programme, it gives a completely different result, which is what has happened,” he added. “As a result, some people who have got higher Z-score have got a lower district ranking than those who have got a lower Z-score. This is the only error that has occurred in the release of the A/L results” Dr. Nawaratne said. Commenting on the local impact of the issue, Dr. Nawaratne said that there was no scientific or official impact for university entrance, as university entrance is purely based on the Z-score system. But when it comes to the district ranking, the students get assigned guidelines to which university they would be selected and into which course. “Of course, students could blame computer error for failing the exams, like it was said that the elections were lost due to a computer jilmart,” he said. Meanwhile, he said there will not be any international impact or link to the entire A/L system. All the evaluations and the other operatives are basically perfect. “The international universities will only consider the grades, the University Grants Commission will examine the Z-score and the district ranking, while the national ranking is evaluated for student purposes,” Dr. Nawaratne added. He claimed there was an error by a programmer which has resulted in errors in the A/L evaluations. There will not be any delays in admissions to universities, and it will be in October, like last year. President Rajapaksa has appointed a four-member committee comprising a retired judge and three vice chancellors to inquire into the A/L results fiasco and suggest recommendations to avoid a repetition in the future. He said the old syllabus and the new syllabus has now been combined to evaluate the Z-score and avoid unnecessary pitfalls. According to the statistical technique called pooling, the distribution for old and new syllabus will be evaluated under the pooling system on the basis of combining both. Since there are two syllabuses, there should be a methodology to merge this. The Z-score system is a scientifically proven system and it is a world methodology. A group of professors have evaluated the Z-score system merging both the new and the old syllabus. Pix by Padma Kumari, Amila Prabodha, Krishan Jayaruk, Saman Kariyawasam and Susantha Liyanawatte

A/L fiasco: Exams chief to be questioned tomorrow

The SundayTimes

As widespread protests continued, outgoing Examination Commissioner Anura Edirisinghe will tomorrow be questioned by the special five-member committee appointed to look into the crisis over the GCE Advanced Level examination results.

The committee which met on Friday heard evidence from Examinations Department officials including the Commissioners in charge of Evaluation and Examinations and computer programmers.
Mr. Edirisinghe who retires from his service today said the problems over the results had arisen because of a wrong entry by the computer programmer. “We do not have qualified programmers. That is why these problems occurred. The amount of money allocated to maintain a computer unit of this magnitude is also insufficient,” he said.
The committee appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the wake of public outcry over the mess in the results is headed by Dhara Wijetilalke, Secretary to the Ministry of Technology and Research.
Its other members are Colombo University Vice Chancellor Shanika Hirimburegama, Moratuwa University Vice Chancellor Ananda Jayawardene, Uva University Vice Chancellor Ranjith Premalal De Silva and Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekara. The Committee will present its report within the next two weeks.

Unravelling The Secrets Technologically

The eternal universe, The Island.

December 30, 2011, 8:03 pm


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

December 30, 2011, 9:10 pm

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.