Principals, teachers want A/L results revised

  FRIDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2011  

Ten education sector trade unions including principals and teachers charged that the formula used to calculate the GCE A/L Z-score was flawed and therefore urged the government to revise the results and issue it afresh.
 
Association of Educational Professionals General Secretary Wasantha Darmasiri told a news conference that there were several errors in the way the Z-score was calculated. 

“There has been no explanation as to how the old and new syllabuses were combined and the way in which it was calculated,” Mr. Darmasiri said. 
 
He displayed a formula sheet and said the number of children who sat the examination, the marks obtained the number of exams they sat for and other details were all vital in preparing the Z score.  He said there was no transparency in how the Z-score was prepared and the mistake was visible.
 
“Even if the Education Ministry says these results are accurate, the people do not have any confidence in them. Therefore the Examination Department has to revise the results,” he said. 
 
The unions vowed to take countrywide trade union action against the Education Ministry’s refusal to revise the A/L results.

The unions also charged that Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena had not taken responsibility for the grave blunders in the A/L results and should resign from his portfolio immediately. (Olindhi Jayasundere)FRIDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2011