Exams chief 'shoots the messenger'!

The Commissioner of Examinations is preparing to seek legal action against an invigilator at the Gampaha Thakshila College who had posted photos of students sitting for the GCE Ordinary Level exam under sodden and deplorable conditions.

The heartbreaking photos were taken during the Music paper exam held on May 31. Students were seen holding umbrellas inside a wet classroom while answering the paper. Sodden answer scripts were also seen in the photos.

The Department of Examinations has also decided to take disciplinary action against the head of the centre over failing to provide the proper facilities for the candidates.

Also, in a complaint to the Western Province educational authorities, the Department is to urge them to take measures against the school principal for providing an exam hall with a roof leaking at the slightest rain, despite the school having spaces in much better conditions.

It is said that the Centre head had initially allowed the exam to proceed for a short while before relocating the students. During that time, she had sent photos of the students to a zonal education director.

The Department says that the Centre head allowing the students to answer the paper in deplorable conditions even for a short whole, could be intentional as the photos had been circulated even when the students were relocated.

Speaking to the media, the Commissioner of Examinations - M.D. Dharmasena has said that a special board would be appointed to scrutinize the papers of students at this particular centre. He has added that he will not allow these students to face any form of injustice.

Boasting vs criticism

The 2021 GCE O/L exam was repeatedly delayed due to a host of reasons before finally being held in May 2022 as the country continues to grapple through an electricity and fuel crisis.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools were closed on several counts and online education with unequal opportunities and facilities proved to be more of a failure to the majority of children. Even after schools reopened, teaching conditions remained far from normal.

The exam was held in this backdrop as well as with one quarter of the syllabi remaining uncovered.

Educational experts point out that not only the teachers but the Department of Examinations is well aware that this year's syllabi cannot be taught without completing the subject matter of the previous two years.

Despite repeated assurances of the Examinations chief, the Paper I of the Science Paper had contained errors, which had to be announced to the candidates after the paper was given to them.

Also, there had been much criticism over the Department choosing to hold the exams in May, when most of the island receives the highest rainfall levels due to fully activated monsoons.