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Z-score criteria to be amended

13 May 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Amid concerns by students, teachers and parents about the Z score marks, the Higher Education Ministry has decided to once again amend the criteria for the calculation of Z-score marks of candidates who sat for the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination last time under two different syllabi.

The situation is likely to delay the admission of students to universities for the next academic year.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) worked out a common methodology for the admission of students under both the syllabi. However, students, teachers and parents challenged it saying that those who did the exam under the new syllabuses were at the short end because of the common system introduced.

Later, some students and a teachers’ union moved the Supreme Court against this criteria which, according to them, violated their fundamental rights.
Subsequent to the Supreme Court’s observations in this respect, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday that he decided to appoint a committee to further amend the manner in which the common methodology of calculating the Z-score rankings is calculated. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed him to do so following complaints by aggrieved students, parents and teachers.

Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said the committee would be appointed probably today or tomorrow.

“We are yet to decide on the composition of this committee. We need to have a common system for the two syllabi, without causing injustice to any student. The Advanced Level Examination will be conducted under two different syllabi this time. Then, we will have the same problem in the calculation of Z-score rankings. Therefore, it is advisable to resolve this problem right at this time. We are planning to broaden the criteria,” he said.

In addition to the problems in the calculation of Z-score marks, there were irregularities in the calculation of rankings of students at district and island levels this time. It eventually led to unrest among candidates

A committee was appointed to look into this problem, and it proposed to take several steps for the capacity development of the examination department in handling the technology related functions. (Kelum Bandara)

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Z-score criteria to be amended

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