Thursday, January 5, 2012
Missing A/L papers found
Five A/L examination papers of students who had sat for the examination on Buddhist Civilisation which had gone missing, were discovered on Tuesday (3), the Ceylon Teachers Services Union said yesterday.
The union’s General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said the discovery was made at an Advanced Level results assessment centre at the Embilipitiya Maha Vidyalaya. The second part of the answer scripts which include essay type questions had gone missing while the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) in part one of the answer scripts were intact.
He said it was found that the students of the aforesaid answer scripts had faired well in the MCQ section but could not pass the Advanced Level exams and was not eligible to further their studies.
“The reason for such a problem to occur is because answer scripts were not collected and distributed at the right time from the examination centres to the assessment and correction centres and due to this failure students have had to suffer,” Jayasinghe said.
“Students and parents have already refused to accept the Advanced Level results. These types of errors will increase their suspicion and distrust over their results and the education system in the country,” he said. (OJ)
The union’s General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said the discovery was made at an Advanced Level results assessment centre at the Embilipitiya Maha Vidyalaya. The second part of the answer scripts which include essay type questions had gone missing while the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) in part one of the answer scripts were intact.
He said it was found that the students of the aforesaid answer scripts had faired well in the MCQ section but could not pass the Advanced Level exams and was not eligible to further their studies.
“The reason for such a problem to occur is because answer scripts were not collected and distributed at the right time from the examination centres to the assessment and correction centres and due to this failure students have had to suffer,” Jayasinghe said.
“Students and parents have already refused to accept the Advanced Level results. These types of errors will increase their suspicion and distrust over their results and the education system in the country,” he said. (OJ)
Ruhunu Uni. Agri student protested demanding hostel facilities
January 4, 2012, 11:06 pm , The Island.by Dasun Edirisinghe
Undergraduates of the Ruhuna University protested yesterday (04) demanding hostels for all students in the Faculty of Agriculture.
Convener of the Inter University Students Federation Sanjeewa Bandara told The Island that the university administration provided hostels for all students until 2010, but now they have asked students to pay for the facility.
"Our demand is for them to provide the facility to all without charging for it," he said.
Bandara said that that Ruhuna University’s Agriculture Faculty, located at Mapalana in Kamburupitiya was a remote area. Therefore, hostel facilities must be provided to the students. There are several vacant hotels inside the faculty premises, he said.
According to him, there are 500 students in the faculty at present. The university administration removed two batches of students from the hostels recently.
"University administration’s newest decision is to provide hostel facilities for only two years," he said.
Bandara said that they would protest until their demands were met.
Ruhunu Uni. Agri student protested demanding hostel facilities
January 4, 2012, 11:06 pm , The Island.by Dasun Edirisinghe
Undergraduates of the Ruhuna University protested yesterday (04) demanding hostels for all students in the Faculty of Agriculture.
Convener of the Inter University Students Federation Sanjeewa Bandara told The Island that the university administration provided hostels for all students until 2010, but now they have asked students to pay for the facility.
"Our demand is for them to provide the facility to all without charging for it," he said.
Bandara said that that Ruhuna University’s Agriculture Faculty, located at Mapalana in Kamburupitiya was a remote area. Therefore, hostel facilities must be provided to the students. There are several vacant hotels inside the faculty premises, he said.
According to him, there are 500 students in the faculty at present. The university administration removed two batches of students from the hostels recently.
"University administration’s newest decision is to provide hostel facilities for only two years," he said.
Bandara said that they would protest until their demands were met.
J’pura u’grads to protest against suspension of colleagues
January 4, 2012, 11:06 pm , Yhe Island.by Dasun Edirisinghe
Undergraduates of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura would launch a protest against the suspension of 10 colleagues by the university administration.
Representative for the students K. Chandananda thera told The Island that the university administration suspended 10 students of the Management Faculty for allegedly organizing students against the government.
He said that this was the latest step by the Vice Chancellor of the University Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne to suppress student leaders.
"Since Dr. Karunaratne assumed duties as the VC, nearly 130 students have been suspended on various grounds. The suspensions were finally lifted due to our protests," Chandananda thera said.
According to him, the university administration banned all student activities, including cultural festivals and arranged for a police post at the university to prevent peaceful protests organized to highlight academic and welfare problems.
Chandananda thera said that the university administration banned Students’ Council and all Faculty Student Unions three years ago.
"Maintaining students’ unions was enabled by the University Act," he said adding that it had been violated by the VC.
He said that they would launch a protest campaign with the support of their colleagues in other universities against the latest suspensions.
As the first step in the protest, flags will be hoisted in the university premises while students and parents will be made aware of what was taking place, Chandananda thera said.
VC Dr. Karunaratne was not available for immediate comments.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Skills training country’s biggest challenge: Dullas
The biggest challenge before the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development is to train 130,000 youth required for the country by 2016 and if the Ministry failed to achieve that target the development programme of the government will be affected, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.
“If I could not meet the target of training the number of youth in various disciplines by 2016, I accept that I am a failed politician and resign,” Minister Alahapperuma vowed.
Minister Alahapperuma was addressing a ceremony held at the Vocational Training Centre at the Tissamaharama Vihara to recruit students and distribute vocational training equipment.
“If I could not meet the target of training the number of youth in various disciplines by 2016, I accept that I am a failed politician and resign,” Minister Alahapperuma vowed.
Minister Alahapperuma was addressing a ceremony held at the Vocational Training Centre at the Tissamaharama Vihara to recruit students and distribute vocational training equipment.
It was in 1972 the second phase of organized vocational training started in Sri Lanka after the British started the first phase in 1893 at Maradana. The third phase of the national vocational training programme was started under President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was the Labour Minister under Chandrika Kumaratunga government when he introduced the Vocational Training Act.
“A national recognition was given to vocational training when this Act was enacted. The vocational training certificate was also accepted as a qualification at job interviews. In addition, National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) has also been set up to give opportunity to higher education in vocational training which marked a turning point in the sector,” Minister Alahapperuma said.
Minister Alahapperuma said some parents are still reluctant to direct their children for vocational training. Their desire is to send their children to a traditional university which does not guarantee an employment after graduation in contrast to the vocational training certificate that ensures a job,” he said. “Students, parents, policy makers and the public must give up the mentality of obtaining a subject centered university degrees as opposed to the skills and trade centered vocational training certificates that ensures a job, Minister Alahapperuma said.
“A national recognition was given to vocational training when this Act was enacted. The vocational training certificate was also accepted as a qualification at job interviews. In addition, National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) has also been set up to give opportunity to higher education in vocational training which marked a turning point in the sector,” Minister Alahapperuma said.
Minister Alahapperuma said some parents are still reluctant to direct their children for vocational training. Their desire is to send their children to a traditional university which does not guarantee an employment after graduation in contrast to the vocational training certificate that ensures a job,” he said. “Students, parents, policy makers and the public must give up the mentality of obtaining a subject centered university degrees as opposed to the skills and trade centered vocational training certificates that ensures a job, Minister Alahapperuma said. SEVEN RAJARATA VARSITY MEDICOS SUSPENDED
Seven students in the medical faculty of the Rajarata University alleged to have been involved in ragging of new students have been suspended from attending classes on a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor K.A. Nandasena yesterday.
Professor Nandasena said that after the students were identified as having been involved in ragging the new students of 2011 the vice chancellor had taken this decision to suspend them from attending classes.
Accordingly suspension from classes and other academic activities was imposed on the students with effect from yesterday. Their right to enter the medical faculty premises had also been suspended.
Professor Nandasena said that after the students were identified as having been involved in ragging the new students of 2011 the vice chancellor had taken this decision to suspend them from attending classes.
Accordingly suspension from classes and other academic activities was imposed on the students with effect from yesterday. Their right to enter the medical faculty premises had also been suspended.
The vice chancellor has arranged to conduct a special inquiry into the incident and follow subsequent disciplinary procedures.
Those subjected to the suspension order were second year students with a female student among them, according to the sources.
Prof. Nandasena said these measures had been taken as ragging in universities had been banned by the government and stern disciplinary action would be taken against them after holding an investigation.
Those subjected to the suspension order were second year students with a female student among them, according to the sources.
Prof. Nandasena said these measures had been taken as ragging in universities had been banned by the government and stern disciplinary action would be taken against them after holding an investigation. A/L RESULTS RE-CORRECTION APPLICATIONS INCREASE BY 70%
With the number of applications for re-correction of answer papers of the controversial A/L results 2011 increasing rapidly, many post offices in the country have run short of receipt books.
According to sources when compared with similar applications in the past years, such requests this year had exceeded by about 70 per cent.
As it was customary for the applicants to pay the re-correction fees at the post offices and submit such applications along with the cash counterfoils issued by the post offices on or before January 8, 2012, the corresponding increase in the issue of these counterfoils this year had resulted in the post offices running out of stock of the relevant books.
For example in the year 2010 only 600 applicants had paid in their fees at the Borella post office, whereas during the first two days of applications, 556 cash counterfoils had been issued.
According to sources when compared with similar applications in the past years, such requests this year had exceeded by about 70 per cent.
As it was customary for the applicants to pay the re-correction fees at the post offices and submit such applications along with the cash counterfoils issued by the post offices on or before January 8, 2012, the corresponding increase in the issue of these counterfoils this year had resulted in the post offices running out of stock of the relevant books.
For example in the year 2010 only 600 applicants had paid in their fees at the Borella post office, whereas during the first two days of applications, 556 cash counterfoils had been issued.
It was evident from the postal authorities that post masters of most post offices in Colombo had ordered extra counterfoil books this year. Meanwhile, the Anuradhapura general post office had earned an income of Rupees 187,500 as re correction fees from students of the area on January 2 and 3.. The fee for re correction of each subject was Rupees 250.
An education officer stated that this was the first occasion where applications for re correction of an examination conducted by the government witnessed so many applicants in relation to the A/L examination held in August 2011.
Resulting from this result fiasco 16 students awaiting results had complained to the Human Rights Commission stating that in view of the unacceptable results released, their fundamental rights had been infringed upon; the Secretary of the Commission, Attorney Nimal Punchihewa informed yesterday.
He also said that a report had been called from the Commissioner General of Examinations regarding this complaint and on receipt investigations would commence. It was expected to use the A/L result sheets annexed to the plaints filed by the complainants for these investigations.
An education officer stated that this was the first occasion where applications for re correction of an examination conducted by the government witnessed so many applicants in relation to the A/L examination held in August 2011.
Resulting from this result fiasco 16 students awaiting results had complained to the Human Rights Commission stating that in view of the unacceptable results released, their fundamental rights had been infringed upon; the Secretary of the Commission, Attorney Nimal Punchihewa informed yesterday.
He also said that a report had been called from the Commissioner General of Examinations regarding this complaint and on receipt investigations would commence. It was expected to use the A/L result sheets annexed to the plaints filed by the complainants for these investigations. One doing the work of three cause of A/L mess up – Dullus
January 3, 2012, 12:00 pm , The Island.
Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dallus Alahapperuma yesterday attributed the GCE (A/L) examination results mess-up to the Examination Department assigning one data-entry operator to handle the workload of three workers.
The revelation was made at the launch of a new vocational training programme at Narahenpita.
The minister said that initial investigations had indicated that the mess-up could have been caused by one person handling the workload of three. However, the ongoing inquiries conducted by a special team appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be able to establish the truth, he said.
The minister accused the Opposition of playing politics by demanding the resignation of Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena over the unfortunate situation. In that case, he, too, as a member of the Cabinet should accept responsibility and give up his portfolio, the National List MP said.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A/L mishap due to three data entry operators:Dullus
Preliminary Investigations have revelealed that the august GCE Advanced Level results mishap was due to three data entry operators feeding the same results to the examination department database Youth Affais and Skills development MInister Dulles Allahapperuma said today. He made this remarks at a news briefing held at Nipunataha Piayasa, Narahenpita.
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