• Claims releasing details of top scorers is an injustice to 90% who don’t pass the exam
• Questions why Comm. Gen. has contradicted own statement
• Says release of highest marks an injustice

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) yesterday (26) questioned whether the disclosure of students with the highest marks in the Grade Five Scholarship Examination was influenced by political motives.

This, as the details were released contrary to Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara’s earlier statement that such information would not be made public.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, CTU President Priyantha Fernando said that despite Commissioner General Jayasundara’s earlier statement that students with the highest marks in the Scholarship Examination would not be disclosed, such information has now been made public. “Only 9-10% of students pass the Scholarship Examination, and releasing these details is a great injustice to the others,” he said.

As per the Public Examinations Act (No. 25 of 1968), CTU President Priyantha Fernando said that the Commissioner General has the authority to decide whether to disclose students with the highest marks or not. “The Commissioner General has contradicted his own statement. We suspect this may have been influenced by political authorities. The display of banners and posters celebrating top-scoring students has also resumed. All of this must stop,” he said.

Jayasundara and Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa were not available for comment.

The Examinations Department stated that approximately 323,900 students had applied for the Grade Five Scholarship Examination, with 319,284 sitting for it. Of these, 51,244 students achieved marks above the cutoff. The department also announced that appeals for result scrutiny can be submitted online from 27 January to 6 February.

Over the years, several groups, including teachers’ and principals’ trade unions (TUs), have opposed or discouraged the publishing of details of students with the highest examination marks, claiming it could negatively impact other students.