Problems have arisen over the results of Sri
Lanka’s university entrance examination for the second consecutive year.
Student unions and political parties are complaining of irregularities and
inconsistent figures in the just-released 2012 results, in a new fiasco that
they say is jeopardising the credibility of the exam system.
The influential Inter University Student
Federation (IUSF) said it had found enough examples to prove inaccuracies in
the results, in the standardised score known as the ‘Z-score’ and in student
rankings.
IUSF Convener Sanjeewa Bandara said that
there was an abnormal increase in the number of students who had obtained three
‘A’ passes in the commerce stream, yet many could not get into university, in
part because there were not enough places.
According to results released in recent
weeks, 6,471 students obtained ‘A’ passes in all three subjects required in the
commerce stream. But only about 5,000 candidates from that stream will be able
to gain university places.
Voice of Youth Organisation Convener Gayan
Janaka said students who obtained the highest marks in the recent A-level
examination have not gained places
“When a student obtains three A’s in the
A-level exam they are certain that they can enter university. But due to the large
number of students admitted this year as well as the high pass rate, many of
these students who have worked so hard to get into university are very unlikely
to be allowed in,” he said.
“Many students have lost the opportunity to
get a higher education. About 220,000 sit the A-level examination every year
but only 20,000 are admitted to universities. What happens to the rest of the
200,000? Don’t they have a right to an education?” Janaka asked.
However, Examinations Department Commissioner
WMNJ Pushpakumara insisted the results were “100% accurate” and refuted as
baseless the IUSF charges of miscalculations.
“A committee and special team were assigned
to separately calculate these values and later compared [them] to ensure there
were no miscalculations,” Pushpakumara said.
Last year thousands of Sri Lankan students
and their parents protested against education officials’ incompetence after
their standardised ‘Z scores’ were changed due to miscalculations after the
rankings were released.
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court directed the
University Grants Commission to admit additional students to local
universities. Accordingly, an extra 5,609 students were admitted – a 25%
increase over the normal intake.
The IUSF is urging the government once again
to admit extra students to state universities.
Extract From : University World News
