The Ministry of Education and the Department of Examinations stated that the date to hold the upcoming G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) examination for 2020 will stand as 18 January 2021, but the Covid-19 situation in the country will be monitored continuously, 

Prof. G.L. Peiris

Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris stated: “Ensuring the health and safety of the students will be our foremost responsibility. That means that we as the Ministry of Education will be continuously having discussions with the Ministry of Health and its respective institutions, and update the necessary guidelines to continue the country’s education.”

Prof. Peiris pointed out that the Ministry will in no way distress the students by continuing to postpone the examinations, but will look at holding examinations in a manner that will ensure the health of the students and the teachers are ensured during the time of examinations.

“The students in Sri Lanka are very enthusiastic to complete their studies and it was well displayed during the Grade Five Scholarship examination. Children, parents, and their teachers worked well, and we had a record number of kids securing full marks in the examination. Similarly, the G.C.E. A/L (Advanced Level) examination was held at the peak of the second wave of the pandemic, yet we followed the necessary guidelines issued by the health sector and conducted the examinations even in isolated areas.”

Prof. Peiris noted that while the schools in the Western Province and the isolated areas will not reopen tomorrow (23), necessary arrangements are in place to allow students access to educational programmes on TV and radio through E-Thaksalawa at the moment.

Meanwhile, Commissioner General of Examinations B. Sanath Pujitha, speaking to The Sunday Morning, noted: “We do not want to prematurely speculate about the upcoming G.C.E. O/L examination for 2020. It is scheduled to take place on 18 January 2021 and we will take a decision on the dates of examinations based on the completion of curricula for the Grade 11 classes. The Department of Examinations will act on the requests that would be made by the Ministry of Education regarding this.”

Pujitha stated that the Department will consult the Ministries of Education and Health based on how the situation evolves in the coming weeks. If the syllabus is covered, there should not be an issue in holding examinations on the scheduled date.