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Warnings fuel crisis could hit O/Ls as schools close

20 May 2022

  • CTU claims 500K students, 35K teachers and principals may be absent
  • Education Ministry decides to close schools due to fuel issue
BY Buddhika Samaraweera As the first phase of the first term of all grades of government schools and government-approved private schools ended prematurely yesterday (19), the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) said that if the current shortage of fuel is not resolved within the next few days, the conduct of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination, to be held from 23 May to 1 June, will inevitably be hampered. Speaking to The Morning, CTU President Priyantha Fernando said: “More than half a million students are sitting for the O/L Exam this year, while nearly 35,000 teachers and principals would be on exam duty. Most of them have to travel many kilometres to reach their respective examination centres. However, due to the current shortage of fuel, including petrol, many of them are unable to afford transportation.” The Ministry of Education said in a press release that the decision to close schools today was reached after taking into account the unavailability of means of transport due to the prevailing fuel shortage, and that the schools will resume academic activities from 6 June. The term was originally set to end today, in view of the 2021 (2022) G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination, scheduled to be held from 23 May to 1 June. Fernando further claimed that the transport allowance given to teachers and principals participating in examination duties during the Covid-19 pandemic has also been suspended as of now. “Commissioner General of Examinations L.M.D. Dharmasena said that everything is ready for the O/L Examination, but no meetings of the heads of examination centres have been held so far. Normally, those meetings should be held at least a week in advance. Also, there are certain candidates who have not yet received their admission cards.” Meanwhile, addressing a media briefing on Wednesday (18), Dharmasena stated that all arrangements have been made to provide adequate transport facilities to students without any hindrance during the period in which the O/L Exam would be held. He said that the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to deploy “Sisu Seriya” buses and additional buses for this purpose, while the trains would also be in operation as usual. “All the admission cards have already been issued and the school candidates can obtain their admission cards from the school. Private applicants can enter the relevant data and download it from the Education Department website if the admission card is delayed. The admission card and a valid identity card are mandatory to sit for the exam,” he said. Dharmasena further said that 590 children with special needs have also applied for the O/L Exam this year, and that they would be provided with the necessary facilities. The O/L Examination, which is usually held in December each year, was postponed in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the closure of schools due to the same. The Education Ministry, on 2 November 2021, announced the revised dates for the examination. Accordingly, it is planned to be held from 23 May to 1 June. A total of 517,496 candidates, including 407,129 school candidates and 110,367 private candidates, would be sitting for the exam this year.  


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