The principals of some leading government schools appear to have violated the Education Ministry circular by admitting students from international schools for their GCE Advanced Level studies, particularly in the English medium, the Daily Mirror learns. 

 

The Education Act, which regulates free education, provides for the offering of local syllabi   only at government schools and government sponsored private schools to prepare students for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination and the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination. The international schools, established under the Companies Act, only can prepare students for London Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations recognized globally.  
 

However, Ministry sources told the Daily Mirror that students, who had done the London O/L exam at these international schools, had gained admission to government schools for Advanced Level studies, mainly in the Science and Maths streams.  The Ministry, therefore, issued a circular prohibiting such admissions. It is now learnt that this circular has been violated by the authorities of a few leading schools in Colombo and Kandy.
 

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane is reported to have instructed his officials to look into this matter, and submit a report. The matter was also brought to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa prior to his departure for New Delhi to attend the swearing in ceremony of India’s Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi. 
 

The principals of these leading schools have justified their actions, saying that they would be unable to conduct Advanced Level studies in English medium without students from international schools. But they have failed to bring this matter to the Ministry’s notice.
 

In Colombo Ananda, Nalanda, D.S. Senanayake and Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya have admitted students in this manner.  Among the Kandy district schools that violated this circular are Dharmaraja, Kingswood, Mahamaya Balika colleges and Girls’ High School. Maliyadeva Girls’ College and Maliyadeva Boys’ College in Kurunegala have also violated it.( Kelum Bandara)