Health Ministry against Exams Chief’s decision on A-H1N1 students

The Health Ministry has disputed the decision taken by the Education Ministry not to permit students who have contracted the A-H1N1 virus from the sitting the Ordinary Level (O/L) examination this month.

Head of the Epidemiology Unit at the Health Ministry Dr. Paba Palihawadana says that not allowing students that have contracted the A H1N1 disease from sitting the O/L exam is ‘impractical’ and he has written to the Education Ministry and the Exams Commissioner in this regard.

Speaking to Daily Mirror online Dr. Palihawadana said that she did not feel that it was necessary that students who had contracted the disease be disallowed to sit the exam as decreed by the Exams Commissioner, but said that special measures must be put into place for them.

She explained that allocating of a separate hall for those with the disease to sit for their exams and ensuring that all those with the disease wore masks would suffice in containing the spreading of it.

Dr. Palihawada added that she had written to both the Education Ministry and the Exams Commisioner with regards to her views on this.

The Exams Commissioner had said that students with the virus will not be permitted to sit the exam which will commence on December 12 this year.