A/L papers to be prepared using examination question databank

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent

Erroneous question papers distributed among the candidates who sat for the recently concluded Advanced Level examination was taken up by Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena at the Parliament on Wednesday proposing to establish a databank with examination questions, which will be used to prepare question papers in the future.

“Last year, utilising over 300 resource personnel comprised of academics and teachers we have prepared 532 different types of question papers where 5,200,000 copies were printed. As a percentage, the four (erroneous) question papers accounts for less than 0.7 per cent of the total of 532. There are no grave errors in the question papers as highlighted by certain parties with political motivation to discredit the Ministries and the Examination Department.

“Flawed question papers were there in the past as well. There is nothing new about it. In the names of Gods, children, and parents taking political advantage out of question papers should stop. We have instructed the Commissioner of Examinations to establish a databank with questions, which will have no errors and can be used for examinations at all times,” said Minister Gunawardena in response to the statement of opposition legislator Democratic National Alliance MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake made on Tuesday at Parliament.

In par with Standing Order 23/2 MP Dissanayake upraised several issues in the recent advanced level examination.

“The answer provided for the question 15 (A) on integration on combined maths examination held on 6 August was incorrect. The Examination Department came forward to resolve this issue by awarding an additional 1.5 marks for this particular question. This solution has an issue where the students who didn’t select the particular question stand ahead of the others with 1.5 marks even before starting the examination.

“With the Physics question paper held on 13 August two amendments were received for the second question. These amendments made on the previous night were according to the new curriculum. Unfortunately this was not seen by most of the examination hall in-charges. The best example is the Royal College Colombo, where the said amendments were not passed to the students. So, to correct the matters the Examination Department has removed the examination hall in-charges in question from duty with immediate effect. But this will not provide a remedy to the students who could not answer the said questions.”

“The amendments made to Agriculture question paper – two were received at most examination halls with a delay. The centres in Kelaniya Region received this almost 15 minutes before the conclusion of the exam. So, these students were left with inadequate time to respond. Some schools received them via fax, which has violated the secrecy of the examination questions.” “Question number 19 in Logic question paper held on 14 August was also found with amendments.”

“A periodic chart was not provided for the Chemistry question paper although it was stated to provide.”

“Students who sat for Sinhala old syllabus had an issue where a part of the question was expected to be highlighted in black. In the absence of the particular part being highlighted or printed in dark letters students failed to respond.”

“According to the new syllabus Bio Science, students are not required to by-heart scientific names. But scientific names were also asked to write.”