Trade Union action on paper marking delays A/L exam results by seven months

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

Even though the 2022 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) exam results should be released within four months after the examination under normal circumstances, the results were issued yesterday after seven months this time since paper marking was hampered due to trade union action, the Education Ministry said.   While issuing a statement, they said the last A/L exam concluded on February 17, 2023.   Although the examination ended on February 17, due to the non-participation of the concerned parties in the programme of scrutinizing answer scripts, the programme had to be started on May 20, and the examination department had released the results in a limited time period.   

The 2023 A/L examination was planned to be held in October by the examination department. Due to the delay in the programme of scrutinizing answer scripts, an advance notice was given on June 17, 2023, stating that the relevant examination is scheduled to be held from November 27 to December 21, 2023.   

Considering the age of the children, it is the expectation of the parents to get the opportunity to appear for the exams as soon as possible.   

A/L students are entitled to six school terms, but these students are entitled to seven school terms for learning activities in a period of 343 days until November 24.   
Parents and students are of the opinion that if the proposed examination schedule and term schedule are revised, it will cause injustice to a large majority of students and thereby violate the rights of all students.   

Currently, 2023 A/L examination applications have been invited, and the number of applications received so far is 323,913. 331,709 applicants applied in the year 2022.   
Even after the release of the results, the students appearing for the second or third time will have the opportunity to apply.