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Breakdown in education structure Spotlight on examination malpractices in the North Central Province



Ceylon Teachers Association maintains that it has made continuous requests to the relevant authorities for a long time and underscores the need to take drastic actions against perpetrators who leak out question paper


Parents and Teacher Trade Unions have expressed concern about the leaking of question papers in the provincial level examinations that has been going on as a practice for some time.

They pointed out that the leaking of question papers at examinations held in the North Central Province have been reported since 2009. In 2009 the Mathematics question paper in the final term test had been leaked into the hands of tuition masters who had eventually discussed the answers with their students. Parents complained that the question paper contained several printing mistakes as well.

A group of teachers filed a complaint over the incident of the year-end term test question papers that were to be issued on March 01 by the Western Province Education Department being shared on social media 


 

In 2023 the Science question paper prepared for Grade eleven students by the Southern Provincial Council had been distributed among Grade 11 students in the North Central Province without any changes. These papers were distributed for use at the second term test.

During the same year, a group of individuals- including the Assistant Supervisor on duty at the Anuradhapura Tissa Maha Vidyalaya- reportedly posted the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination paper on social media. Charges were filed against six teachers and an inquiry has been initiated by the Examinations Department. 

On the first day of the final term test for students in the North Central Province, a teacher who prepared the Grade 6 geography paper had shared it on WhatsApp. Thereafter this question paper was annulled and a separate question paper had to be prepared by officials at the Provincial Examinations Department, bearing additional expenses. The Department has already initiated a disciplinary inquiry against this teacher.  In addition the Sinhala literature paper for Grade 11 students was also leaked into the hands of tuition masters prior to the examination. 

Subsequent investigations revealed that all other question papers of the final term test for Grade 11 students had been leaked out to the tuition masters. This resulted in the cancellation of the entire term test on the instructions of the Provincial Education Secretary Sirimewan Dharmasena.

The ongoing examination malpractice in the North Central Province has created a major issue jeopardising the education sector in the province, much to the anxiety of parents. The public, particularly the schoolchildren, have lost confidence in the trustworthiness of public examinations held by the province. The teachers, principals of schools, and the teacher trade unions expressed concerns regarding this deplorable state of affairs in the education sector in the North Central Province.

Need for drastic decisions 

Ceylon Teachers Association (CTA) said that it had made continuous requests to the relevant authorities for a long time and pointed out the need to take drastic actions against the real perpetrators. CTA President Priyantha Fernando had this to say about this burning issue: “Since 2009, the leaking of question papers at examinations held in the North Central Province has been reported. In 2009, the Mathematics question paper of Grade 10 students was leaked into the hands of tuition masters.

“For some time, these incidents were not reported due to lack of media coverage. But in 2023 and 2024, the situation worsened and the question papers in several public examinations and term tests got leaked through social media websites and Whatsapp groups. The question paper used in the Year Five scholarship examination in 2023 was leaked out by an organised group including an Assistant Supervisor of Anuradhapura Tissa Maha Vidyalaya Examination Centre. The Examinations Department has initiated an inquiry against six school teachers in connection with the incident and the entire term test for Grade 11 students in NCP schools has been cancelled due to the leaking of question papers. In the North Central Province there are around 22,000 students enrolled in Grade 11 classes. A huge amount of money has been spent to print question papers. This expense has now become a colossal waste of money due to the leaking of question papers,” Fernando added. 


Examination malpractices in the province have been happening in broad daylight. However, the relevant authorities have ignored them. Our trade union and several parents have complained to the police in this regard
- Asela Wijesinghe, Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union Anuradhapura District Secretary


He also mentioned about a looming crisis within the Provincial Education Department. “Clashes among officers hunting for senior positions have led to this sad state of affairs which seriously affects school children. There are about 60% vacancies among administrative officers in the education sector. Some officers are infamous for frauds and corrupt practices. Some haven’t given up on attempts to gain positions despite being accused of various allegations. Speculation is rife whether a conspiracy is being hatched by them in the form of resorting to examination malpractices in an attempt to bring disrepute to the senior officials and to rise to senior positions by means of political favour,” the trade union leader alleged. He requested the relevant authorities to focus their attention on the present crisis and to streamline the affairs of the Education Department to prevent the recurrence of similar examination malpractices in the future. 

Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union Anuradhapura District Secretary Asela Wijesinghe said that all provincial education officials in the North Central Province should be held responsible for this sad state of affairs. “Examination malpractices in the province have been happening in broad daylight. However, the relevant authorities have ignored them. Our trade union and several parents have complained to the police in this regard. This is a politically motivated act of sabotage to bring disrepute to the government,” he claimed further. 

Meanwhile, the Principal of Niwanthakachethiya Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura, Kusum Thilak said that it is a despicable act on the part of the teachers to deliberately leak question papers prepared by them to the tuition masters. “It is a clear indication of their lack of consideration. They have showcased their questionable mentality by engaging in such petty activities. Tuition teachers are trying to cheat and attract more students to their classes instead of actually teaching students and guiding them to obtain good results. It is sad that at the end of the day, these malpractices affect the children. It indicates a breakdown in the entire social structure. This would bring disgrace to the entire teaching profession. The officials cannot do anything in their capacity and are not to blame. The teachers who set the question papers should be held responsible,” the principal said. The delay in the term examination means that the students do not have a chance to know about their progress. The teachers do not have an opportunity to make a plan for the students,” said Thilak. 


It is a clear indication of their lack of consideration. They have showcased their questionable mentality by engaging in such petty activities. Tuition teachers are trying to cheat and attract more students to their classes instead of actually teaching students and guiding them to obtain good results. It is sad that at the end of the day, these malpractices affect the children
- Kusum Thilak, Principal of Niwanthakachethiya Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura


He proposed to set up a question paper repository with a minimum of ten papers per subject and release one to an examination supervisor without any delays. Meanwhile, Provincial Education Secretary Sirimewan Dharmasena said that he had complained to the Police and the CID regarding the incident while initiating an investigation by the Department itself. He said stern disciplinary action would be taken against those responsible regardless of their position or power. 

Attempts to contact Additional Commissioner of Examinations, Neil Atukorala to inquire about actions being taken by the Examinations Department proved futile. 



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