University Employees Union protest

Lecturers may stop marking A/L papers

University lecturers yesterday threatened to stop the marking of A/L examination papers and cut short their involvement in preparing text books after a recent clash with the Education Secretary.

Dailymirror

Teachers blast Z-score review decision

May 14, 2012, 10:35 pm , the island

by Dasun Edirisinghe

 The JVP–led Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) yesterday blasted the Higher Education Ministry’s decision to review the ‘Z–score’ system currently used to admit students to universities.

CTSU General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe told The Island that Higher Education minister S. B. Disanayake’s statement that an independent expert panel would be appointed under the President’s supervision to review the current university entrance system, the ‘Z –score’, was a farce.

Minister Dissanayake has decided to appoint a committee to review the ‘Z-score’ system on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s instructions and to sort out problems related to it once and for all, Jayasinghe said adding that the government appointed five-member experts panel to look into the matters related to messed up GCE (A/L) results 2011 had submitted their report, but the students who sat the examination have not been informed about their position so far.

He said that there was a court case filed by a student against those results.

"In this context, it is a joke to appoint another committee to review the Z–score system," Jayasinghe said.

The trade unionist said that the students were affected by the error created when the merged ‘Z – scores’ of marks of two syllabuses were.

Jayasinghe said they had asked the government not waste more time by appointing fresh committees but cancel the result and reevaluate the papers.

When contacted by The Island, Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that there were several critics of the Z–score system’s credibility.

"That is why we decided to appoint an experts panel to review the system," he said.

Results of the 2011 AL exams were incorrect - SC

Date:2012-05-12 02:01:00

Stanley Samarasinghe, Ceylon Today The Supreme Court yesterday declared that results of the 2011 AL examination were incorrect based on the two sets of question papers  submitted to the Court. Supreme Court Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga said the inquiry relating to the Fundamental Right Case filed by 16 students and Ceylon Teachers  Union challenging the validity of 2011 AL results, has revealed that the  results were incorrect. The Court had examined the two sets of question papers submitted to  the Court by the petitioners. Examination Commissioner W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara, representatives from the University Grants Commission, Education Minister Bandula  Gunawardena, Professor R.O. Thatil and the Attorney General were the respondents. Counsel for the petitioners J.C. Weliamuna submitted to the Court that  the incorrect results were caused by amalgamating marks from two  separate papers to calculate the ‘Z’s score. The counsel for two students seeking to support the case submitted that the two sets of examination papers given to the students stated that 33 out of 60 questions  in each paper were identical. However, the counsel said according to the new syllabus a student can obtain more  marks answering a lesser number of questions in a shorter time whereas with the  older syllabus it was the opposite of it. At this time Justice Amaratunga observed that even one mark could make a vast  difference in the results and consequently in the life of a student. Counsel Weliamuna together with Counsel Sanjeeva Ranaweera instructed by  Counsel Sanjeewa Kaluarachchi appeared for the petitioners. President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha with Counsel Kushan Alwis appeared for the University Grants Commission and State Counsel Therium Pillai appeared for the Minister and the Attorney General.

Z-score criteria to be amended

Sunday, 13 May 2012 21:34, Dailymirror

Amid concerns by students, teachers and parents about the Z score marks, the Higher Education Ministry has decided to once again amend the criteria for the calculation of Z-score marks of candidates who sat for the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination last time under two different syllabi.

The situation is likely to delay the admission of students to universities for the next academic year.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) worked out a common methodology for the admission of students under both the syllabi.  However, students, teachers and parents challenged it saying that those who did the exam under the new syllabuses were at the short end because of the common system introduced.

Later, some students and a teachers’ union   moved the Supreme Court against this criteria which, according to them, violated their fundamental rights.
Subsequent to the Supreme Court’s observations in this respect, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday that he decided to appoint a committee to further amend the manner in which the common methodology of calculating the Z-score rankings is calculated.  He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed him to do so following complaints by aggrieved students, parents and teachers.

Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said the committee would be appointed probably today or tomorrow.

 “We are yet to decide on the composition of this committee. We need to have a common system for the two syllabi, without causing injustice to any student. The Advanced Level Examination will be conducted under two different syllabi this time. Then, we will have the same problem in the calculation of Z-score rankings. Therefore, it is advisable to resolve this problem right at this time. We are planning to broaden the criteria,” he said. 

In addition to the problems in the calculation of Z-score marks,   there were irregularities in the calculation of rankings of students at district and island levels this time. It eventually led to unrest among candidates

A committee was appointed to look into this problem, and it proposed to take several steps for the capacity development of the examination department in handling the technology related functions. (Kelum Bandara)

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.

Break-in at Education Ministry Finance and Pay Division

May 10, 2012, 10:01 pm

By Madura Ranwala, the island

Burglars had broken into the Ministry of Education, ‘Isurupaya’ on Tuesday night, police said.

Police spokesman Superindent Ajith Rohana said that the thieves had entered the building by breaking a window and a door to gain entry into the Finance and Pay Division on the fourth floor.

He said that the Thalangama police, who were investigating the incident had found nothing missing after they were informed of the break-in the following day around 9.00 a.m.

The reason for the break-in had not been ascertained as yet. But the police suspect that they had searched for the keys of the safe in the building, he said.

Jaffna Mayor cracks the whip on tutories

May 10, 2012, 9:59 pm , the island

By Franklin R. Satuyapalan

The Jaffna Municipal Council Mayoress Mrs Yogeswari Patkunarajah has laid down guidelines for all heads of tutories being conducted within the Municipal limits. They would to Register and follow regulations formulated by the council, for the well being of the students who attend them.

The prompt action taken by the Jaffna Mayoress was welcomed by both parents and children who had complained earlier about the lack of hygiene, especially the lack of sanitary facilities and adequate lighting outside the tutories for the security of students who come from distant places by bicycle after 6.00 p.m. and stay on late into the night.

The Mayoress summoned all the heads of tutories for a discussion in this connection at the Jaffna Municipal Council auditorium last Tuesday (8th). She told the heads of the educational institutions that they had an obligation and a moral responsibility to ensure the well being of the students who patronised their tutories.

Mrs Patkunarajah, whilst thanking the heads of the 71 tutories who had registered themselves with the council, warned that stern action would be taken against the heads of 22 illegal tutories functioning within the municipal limits of Jaffna.

She instructed the Public Health Inspectors (PHI’s) attached to the council to carry out periodic checks on these tutorials after advising their heads to ensure a clean environment and provide adequate facilities such as clean drinking water, toilets, ventilation, lighting, parking space for bicycles with security.