Grade 5 scholarship abolished -- circular taken off

Grade 5 scholarship abolished -- circular taken off

Minister of Education, Mr. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that he has instructed Education Secretary to remove the circular presently in operation which says that it is compulsory for school-children to sit for grade 5 scholarship examination. He said this at Nugegoda Anula Vidyalaya annual prize giving when he attended the occasion as the chief guest.

The Minister of Education has taken this decision after considering recommendations of a committee

that has been appointed in connection with restructuring scholarship examinations. The reason for this decision is because even students who do not look forward to student assistance and do not desire popular schools as such sitting for the scholarship examination which has resulted in a competition in the scholarship examination rising further, thus the burden thrown on the shoulders of school children increasing. In this manner they would be provided the opportunity of deciding whether in future to appear for the scholarship examination or not.

It has been revealed that expenses incurred by the state for student assistance annually amounts to close upon Rs. 10 million and 35 lakhs and that to hold the scholarship examination alone an expenditure close upon 20 million is incurred. A  few days before this what the Education Minister has told was that the scholarship examination would be conducted in future only as a programme of bestowing scholarship funds rural children and that attention has been focused on holding an admission test on school level which was existent upto the 1980 decade to admit children to popular schools.