No changes in Grade 5 exam -- President

Who says Scholarship would be cancelled?
 What each and everybody says is not the government decision -- President

The statement made by Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena that the  Grade 5 Scholarship examination would be abolished as from the year 2016 and instead an exam free of competition would be introduced to judge the Achievement levels of students and there would be no issue anymore as all schools in future would be made popular schools, created an uproar. Though Minister Bandula brought this out with the motive
of preventing pressure on the children, what was at the back of that decision was, certain informed sources say that the reason was to provide more opportunities to admit children to popular schools through illegal means.  

Because of this decision, teachers' unions even went to the extent of filing legal action against it saying that it was social injustice to close the only door open for rural children to gain admission to popular schools. Even Minister Wimal Weerawansa too voiced his criticism on this matter in public.

It was reported that a subject of discussion had taken place yesterday (Jan 2) night at the Central Executive Committee about the pros and cons of the outcome that can crop up in the new election year because of this unpopular decision. The Hon. President has mentioned, "We have not taken any decision on this matter ... that decision already taken is something decided on one's own personal ideas. The government has not said anything like that. Don't get upset over it. I shall speak about it at the cabinet meeting on Friday and solve this issue", regarding this subject.

Inside sources say that an announcement would be made at the cabinet meeting to be held today (Jan 3) that the Hon. President has taken a decision to nullify the decision taken to abolish the Scholarship.

Even about 2 years before this in 2011 the Minister of Education, Bandula Gunawardena had attempted to bring in a new rule that all schools should continue till 3.30 in the afternoon because in comparison to teachers, other employers would be done injustice at which point too the Hon. President addressing a meeting in Kandy said that such a decision had not been taken and no such decision would be implemented in the future either.

Another occasion when the Hon. President applied plaster on Minister Bandula's lips, thus will come to a close.