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All safety measures in place for O/Ls today

01 Mar 2021

The GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination is set to begin today (1) with all safety measures in place. The exam will go on till 11 March for 622,352 candidates who applied for the 2020 O/L examination, out of which 423,746 are school applicants. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (28), Commissioner General of Examinations Sanath Pujitha said that the Ministry of Education had allocated funds to provide the necessary protective equipment and sanitising facilities to examination centres. “The Ministry of Education has allocated Rs. 50,000,000 to provide necessary sanitation equipment to all 4,513 centres in all nine provinces, and the centres have already received this necessary equipment.” When inquired by The Morning regarding the provision of necessary sanitising and equipment to those in exam duty, including teachers, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said yesterday that sanitising facilities and protective equipment have not been provided to the exam centres by the Government. “Teachers are not being given masks, soap, and sanitiser. Exam centres have only been provided one face shield per centre,” he stressed. However, when Commissioner General Pujitha was questioned in this regard, he said that the required protective equipment and sanitising facilities have been arranged for all centres, along with personal protective equipment (PPE) kits for those who will be performing duties in the special centres set up in treatment centres for Covid-19-positive candidates. “Face shields and other necessary PPE are being provided by the Ministry of Education for those performing duties in the 40 special examination centres for Covid-19-positive candidates. Hand washing facilities and hand sanitiser are also being provided. Teachers should bring their own masks like everyone.” Meanwhile, holding a press conference on Thursday (25), Ceylon Teachers’ Services Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe demanded that those performing exam duties for the O/L exam be vaccinated immediately. “We demand that about 46,000 teachers, principals, and other education administrative service staff members in the exam service, who will be performing exam duties, be vaccinated immediately as they would need time to rest following vaccination after effects before they are ready to begin their duties. There are candidates under quarantine – Covid-19-positive candidates. Those on duty are facing a big risk.” However, when inquired from the Ministry of Health, The Morning learnt that vaccinating those in line of duty for exams does not provide them with any special protection. “The first dose of the vaccine takes at least a period of four weeks from the date of vaccination to become effective. Our country’s vaccination drive began in early February, so when exams started on 1 March (today), there was no time for sufficient protection to develop. Immediate vaccination does not give the vaccinated any special protection. Following necessary safety precautions is important,” said Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath. Dr. Herath, however, added that It would be ideal for all teachers to be vaccinated soon.


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