In light of the suspension of the second phase of paper-marking activities for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination due to a lack of fuel and transportation, teachers engaged in Engineering Technology Practical Tests for the 2021 Advanced Level (A/L) Examination have decided to withdraw from the said duties as of today (4) due to the same issues, according to the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU).
“The second phase of the paper-marking activities of the O/L Examination has been halted due to a lack of transportation facilities,” CTU President Priyantha Fernando said. Teachers working at Engineering Technology practical test centers for the A/L Examination are also experiencing difficulties in the current situation. Teachers have decided to withdraw from such duties as of tomorrow (4) because there is no solution to such problems.”
He said that a total of 24,950 candidates are scheduled to appear for these tests and that they are also finding it difficult to travel to the centres where the tests are being held. For instance, he said that the students from areas such as Bibila and Ampara have to travel to the centre in Monaragala to sit for the test.
“We have made this decision after making several requests to the authorities to provide us with fuel and transportation facilities. This will result in a delay of issuing A/L results, and the Government’s inability to provide us with the necessary facilities is a serious injustice to the students. They had to face hardships during the Covid-19 pandemic and now they have to suffer due to the rulers’ inability to govern the country,” he charged.
Examination Department Commissioner General L.M.D. Dharmasena on 28 June said that Engineering Technology Practical Tests for the 2021 A/L Examination would be held from 29 June to 9 July. He said that 24,950 candidates would appear for the tests, while 1,540 staff members would engage in duties pertaining to the holding of the tests
