questionable deployment of Casual employees at Department of Examinations

By Dayaseeli Liyanage   

Individuals recruited recently on casual basis have been illegally deployed in the Confidential Branch of the Department of Examinations even though as a practice employees who were deployed at that branch had to be cleared based on police reports and a screening processes which included confidentiality.

These recruits who are employed on casual basis have been deployed to perform key duties such as computerizing marks of main examinations, computerization  of examination papers and marks of Grade five Scholarship examination etc.  A senior officer from the Department of Examinations  said that only permanent officers of the department were employed in the Confidential Branch of the Department and confidentiality and accountability were expected from them.   He also said that such duties could not be expected from those who work on casual basis and no confidence could be kept in them with regards to the confidentiality and accountability connected with examinations.   

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the State Education Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya have already been informed about this situation in writing.   

When inquired, the Commissioner General of Examinations B. Sanath Pujitha said that police reports were obtained from department employees and causal employees could be employed if they had worked for more than 180 days.   

The burden on the Examinations Department has increased with 717, 000 candidates sitting for GCE O/L 2019 with a total number of 53 subjects and the examination would be conducted in all three mediums, he said.